Bingo game system with bingo listener and subpool bonus feature

ABSTRACT

A bingo game system provides for new features and functionality for a bingo game platform, including a bingo listener for relaying messages from a bingo broadcaster to at least one mobile client device (e.g., via a bingo connection proxy).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to InternationalApplication No. PCT/US2015/034107 filed Jun. 4, 2015, entitled “BINGOGAME SYSTEM WITH BINGO LISTENER AND SUBPOOL BONUS FEATURE,” which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/606,953 filed Jan. 27, 2015, entitled “BINGOGAME SYSTEM WITH BINGO LISTENER”; which claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/931,734 filed Jan. 27,2014, entitled “BINGO GAME SYSTEM WITH BINGO LISTENER.” Each of theabove applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An understanding of embodiments described in this disclosure and many ofthe related advantages may be readily obtained by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered with the accompanyingdrawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a bingo system according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a bingo system according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 10 is an example interface according to some embodiments;

FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 11C, FIG. 11D, FIG. 11E, FIG. 11F, FIG. 11G,FIG. 11H, and FIG. 11I depict an example interface according to someembodiments;

FIG. 12 is an example interface according to some embodiments; and

FIG. 13 is an example interface according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments presented in this disclosure are descriptive of systemsfor providing bingo game play, comprising: (i) a bingo game server incommunication with a player interface, a memory device, and/or acloud-based cache; (ii) a bingo controller in communication with thebingo game server and with the memory device; (iii) a game webserver incommunication with the bingo game server (and/or with a cloud-basedcache); and (iv) a bingo broadcaster in communication with the bingogame sever and the player interface via a bingo listener (e.g.,Java™-based message service component), a message broker, and a bingoconnection proxy.

Some embodiments presented in this disclosure are descriptive ofsystems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for newfeatures and functionality of bingo games. Although some embodiments maybe discussed in this disclosure, by means of example and for convenienceof illustration only, in the context of particular examples of bingogames, it will be readily understood that such embodiments may beadapted and/or implemented with respect to one or more other types ofbingo games (e.g., 75-ball bingo, 80 ball bingo), as deemed desirablefor a particular implementation. A bingo game in accordance with one ormore embodiments described in this disclosure may be implemented, forexample and without limitation, as an online game, offline game,wagering game, non-wagering game, and/or social network game.

Inventors have recognized that some types of game providers and playersmay find it beneficial to provide for game play that allows for one ormore of: (i) a chance of simultaneous numbers being called at once in abingo game, (ii) enhanced win opportunities, and/or (iii) an increase inthe chance of having simultaneous winners.

According to some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatus, and articlesof manufacture provide for one or more of: (i) determining and/ordisplaying a set of numbers or other bingo game symbols for play of abingo game (e.g., a bingo ticket); (ii) determining and/or displaying asubset of game symbols (also referred to in this disclosure as a“subpool”), from which at least one bingo call will be made for thebingo game (e.g., a subset of game symbols that is fewer than all of thebingo game symbols not yet called in the bingo game); (iii) determiningand/or displaying a number of game symbols that will be called from asubpool from which a call will be made (e.g., determining that two ormore game symbols will be called simultaneously); (iv) determiningand/or displaying an indication of one or more game symbols called fromthe subpool; (v) determining and/or displaying an indication of anybingo game symbols for play (e.g., on a bingo ticket) that match gamesymbols called from the subpool; and/or (vi) determining and/ordisplaying an indication of a prize won in the bingo game (e.g., basedon the called game symbols).

According to some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatus, and articlesof manufacture provide for: (i) determining and/or displaying a set ofnumbers or other bingo game symbols for play of a bingo game; (ii)determining and/or displaying a subpool of game symbols, from which atleast one bingo call will be made for the bingo game; (iii) determiningand/or displaying a number of game symbols that will be called from asubpool from which a call will be made; (iv) determining and/ordisplaying an indication of one or more game symbols called from thesubpool; (v) determining and/or displaying an indication of any bingogame symbols for play (e.g., on a bingo ticket) that match game symbolscalled from the subpool; (vi) determining and/or displaying anindication of a primary prize won in the bingo game based on completinga match of all of a set of bingo game symbols for play; and (vii)determining and/or displaying an indication of a secondary prize won inthe bingo game based on the number of game symbols that were called fromthe subpool and used to complete the matching of all of the set of bingogame symbols to win the primary prize.

According to some embodiments, a secondary game event (e.g., a secondaryprize) may be determined and/or resolved based on the number of bingogame symbols (e.g., bingo balls) that were drawn from a subpool of bingogame symbols. According to one or more embodiments, a secondary prizemay be won if: (i) a winning bingo pattern is achieved based on bingogame symbols called from a subpool, and (ii) the number of bingo gamesymbols that were called matches a predetermined number of called gamesymbols.

In one embodiment (referred to in this disclosure as a “clean sweepbonus”), a bonus jackpot may be provided to a player if a game is wonwhen all of the bingo game symbols drawn from the subpool are used tocomplete a winning bingo pattern. For instance, a player may receive aclean sweep bonus jackpot if two bingo balls, “5” and “27,” are the onlyremaining unmatched bingo balls on a bingo ticket necessary to win aprimary prize in a bingo game, then “5” and “27” are the only two bingoballs drawn from a subpool, giving the player a bingo result (e.g.,winning the primary prize).

In another, related embodiment in the context in which multiple bingotickets are in play at the same time, a bonus jackpot may be provided toa player if all of the balls drawn from a subpool in a single call roundwere used to complete a winning bingo pattern, and the only matches madewere those that resulted in completing the winning bingo pattern (e.g.,there were no daubs made in any other active bingo tickets).

In another embodiment (referred to in this disclosure as a “lucky shotbonus”), a bonus jackpot may be provided to a player if a game is wonwhen only a single ball is drawn from a subpool. For instance, theplayer may receive a lucky shot bonus jackpot if 4 out of 5 bingo ballshave been matched so far in a bingo game, then a single bingo ball isdrawn from the subpool, and that single ball is the one that matches thelast unmatched bingo ball, giving the player a bingo result (e.g.,winning the player a primary prize). According to this exampleembodiment, if more than one ball is drawn from a subpool, then, even ifthe player achieves a bingo result, the bingo game would not award abonus or secondary prize.

According to some embodiments, a bingo game having one or more featuresdiscussed in this disclosure may be presented with an archery theme,such as with a Robin Hood-type character or a Cupid-type characterfiring arrows (e.g., at balloons and/or other types of game objects) toindicate which of a player's numbers (if any) have been matched on hisor her ticket by one or more called numbers (e.g., two or more numberscalled at the same time). According to one example embodiment, balloonsrepresent a player's numbers on his or her tickets. For instance, a userinterface may display to the player a number of balloons, each balloonincluding a number representative of a number on a bingo ticket theplayer has purchased. In accordance with some embodiments, a number ofbingo numbers to call is determined (e.g., based on a pseudo randomdetermination). According to some embodiments utilizing an archerytheme, a game character may be represented as taking that many arrowsand firing them off (e.g., toward the numbered balloons). In oneexample, each called number that the player has on a ticket (e.g.,represented by a numbered balloon) results in the associated balloonbeing popped. In one embodiment, a player wins when all numbers on histicket (e.g., all the balloons in a given set or ticket) have beenpopped or otherwise marked off.

Throughout this description unless otherwise specified, the followingterms may include and/or encompass the example meanings provided in thissection. These terms and illustrative example meanings are provided toclarify the language selected to describe embodiments both in thespecification and in the appended claims, and accordingly, are notintended to be limiting. While not generally limiting and while notlimiting for all described embodiments, in some embodiments, the termsare specifically limited to the example definitions and/or examplesprovided. Other terms are defined throughout the present description.

A “game,” as the term is used in this disclosure (unless specifiedotherwise), may generally comprise any game (e.g., wagering ornon-wagering, electronically playable over a network) playable by one ormore players in accordance with specified rules. A game may be playableon a personal computer (PC) online in web browsers, on a game consoleand/or on a mobile device such as a smart-phone or tablet computer.“Gaming” thus generally refers to play of a game.

A “casual game,” as the term is utilized in this disclosure (unlessotherwise specified), may generally comprise a game with simple ruleswith little or no time commitment on the time of a player to play. Acasual game may feature, for example, very simple game play such as apuzzle or Scrabble™ game, may allow for short bursts of play (e.g.,during work breaks), an ability to quickly reach a final stage and/orcontinuous play without a need to save the game.

A “social network game,” as used in this disclosure (unless specifiedotherwise), generally refers to (and in specific embodiments may beexpressly limited to) a type of online game that is played through asocial network, and in some embodiments may feature multiplayer andasynchronous game play mechanics. A “social network” may refer to anonline service, online community, platform, or site that focuses onfacilitating the building of social networks or social relations amongpeople. A social network service may, for example, consist of arepresentation of each user (often a profile), his/her social links, anda variety of additional services. A social network may be web-based andprovide means for users to interact over the Internet, such as e-mailand instant messaging. A social network game may in some embodiments beimplemented as a browser game, but may also be implemented on otherplatforms such as mobile devices.

A “wagering game,” as the term is used in this disclosure (unlessspecified otherwise), may generally comprise (and in specificembodiments may be expressly limited to) a game on which a player canrisk a wager or other consideration, such as, but not limited to: slotgames, poker games, blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette, lottery,bingo, keno, casino war, etc. A wager may comprise a monetary wager inthe form of an amount of currency or any other tangible or intangiblearticle having some value which may be risked on an outcome of awagering game. “Gambling” or “wagering” generally refers to play of awagering game.

The term “game provider,” as used in this disclosure (unless specifiedotherwise), generally refers to (and in specific embodiments may beexpressly limited to) an entity or system of components which providesgames for play and facilitates play of such game by use of a networksuch as the Internet or a proprietary or closed networks (e.g., anintranet or wide area network). For example, a game provider may operatea website which provides games in a digital format over the Internet. Insome embodiments in which a game comprising a wagering game is provided,a game provider may operate a gambling website over which wagers areaccepted and results of wagering games are provided.

As utilized in this disclosure, the term “player” may generally refer to(and in specific embodiments may be expressly limited to) any type,quantity, and or manner of entity associated with the play of a game. Insome embodiments, a player may comprise an entity conducting play of anonline game, for example, may comprise an entity that desires to play agame (e.g., an entity registered and/or scheduled to play and/or anentity having expressed interest in the play of the game—e.g., aspectator) and/or may comprise an entity that configures, manages,and/or conducts a game. A player may be currently playing a game or havepreviously played the game, or may not yet have initiated play—i.e., a“player” may comprise a “potential player” (e.g., in general and/or withrespect to a specific game). In some embodiments, a player may comprisea user of an interface (e.g., whether or not such a player participatesin a game or seeks to participate in the game). In some embodiments, aplayer may comprise an individual (or group) that enters, joins, logsinto, registers for, and/or otherwise access an online game room,session, server, and/or other particular instance and/or segmentation ofan online game.

Some embodiments described in this disclosure are associated with a“player device” or a “network device.” As used in this disclosure, a“player device” is a subset of a “network device.” The “network device,”for example, may generally refer to any device that can communicate viaa network, while the “player device” may comprise a network device thatis owned and/or operated by or otherwise associated with a player.Examples of player and/or network devices may include, but are notlimited to: a PC, a computer workstation, a computer server, a printer,a scanner, a facsimile machine, a copier, a Personal Digital Assistant(PDA), a storage device (e.g., a disk drive), a hub, a router, a switch,and a modem, a video game console, or a wireless or cellular telephone.Player and/or network devices may, in some embodiments, comprise one ormore network components.

As used in this disclosure, the term “network component” may refer to aplayer or network device, or a component, piece, portion, or combinationof player or network devices. Examples of network components may includea static random access memory (SRAM) device or module, a networkprocessor, and a network communication path, connection, port, or cable.

In addition, some embodiments are associated with a “network” or a“communication network.” As used in this disclosure, the terms “network”and “communication network” may be used interchangeably and may refer toany object, entity, component, device, and/or any combination thereofthat permits, facilitates, and/or otherwise contributes to or isassociated with the transmission of messages, packets, signals, and/orother forms of information between and/or within one or more networkdevices. Networks may be or include a plurality of interconnectednetwork devices. In some embodiments, networks may be hard-wired,wireless, virtual, neural, and/or any other configuration or type thatis or becomes known. Communication networks may include, for example,devices that communicate directly or indirectly, via a wired or wirelessmedium such as the Internet, intranet, a local area network (LAN), awide area network (WAN), a cellular telephone network, a Bluetooth®network, a near-field communication (NFC) network, a radio frequency(RF) network, a virtual private network (VPN), Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3),token ring, or via any appropriate communications means or combinationof communications means. Exemplary protocols include but are not limitedto: Bluetooth™, time division multiple access (TDMA), code divisionmultiple access (CDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM),enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE), general packet radioservice (GPRS), wideband CDMA (WCDMA), advanced mobile phone system(AMPS), digital AMPS (D-AMPS), IEEE 802.11 (WI-FI), IEEE 802.3, SAP, thebest of breed (BOB), and/or system to system (S2S).

As used in this disclosure, the terms “information” and “data” may beused interchangeably and may refer to any data, text, voice, video,image, message, bit, packet, pulse, tone, waveform, and/or other type orconfiguration of signal and/or information. Information may compriseinformation packets transmitted, for example, in accordance with theInternet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) standard. Information may, accordingto some embodiments, be compressed, encoded, encrypted, and/or otherwisepackaged or manipulated in accordance with any method that is or becomesknown or practicable.

The term “indication,” as used in this disclosure (unless specifiedotherwise), may generally refer to any indicia and/or other informationindicative of or associated with a subject, item, entity, and/or otherobject and/or idea. As used in this disclosure, the phrases “informationindicative of” and “indicia” may be used to refer to any informationthat represents, describes, and/or is otherwise associated with arelated entity, subject, or object. Indicia of information may include,for example, a code, a reference, a link, a signal, an identifier,and/or any combination thereof and/or any other informativerepresentation associated with the information. In some embodiments,indicia of information (or indicative of the information) may be orinclude the information itself and/or any portion or component of theinformation. In some embodiments, an indication may include a request, asolicitation, a broadcast, and/or any other form of informationgathering and/or dissemination.

A “session”, as the term is used in this disclosure (unless indicatedotherwise), may generally comprise (and in specific embodiments may beexpressly limited to) a period of time spanning a plurality of eventinstances or turns of the game, the session having a defined start anddefined end. An event instance or turn is triggered upon an initiationof, or request for, at least one result of the game by a player, such asan actuation of a “start” or “spin” mechanism, which initiation causesan outcome to be determined or generated (e.g., a random numbergenerator is contacted or communicated with to identify, generate ordetermine a random number to be used to determine a result for the eventinstance).

As used in this disclosure, the terms “outcome” and “result” should bedifferentiated in the present description in that an “outcome” isgenerally a representation of a “result,” typically comprising one ormore game elements or game symbols. For example, in a “fruit themed”game, a winning outcome (i.e., an outcome corresponding to some kind ofaward, prize or payout) may comprise a combination of three “cherry”symbols. The “result” of this outcome may be a payout of X creditsawarded to the player associated with the game. In another example, in agame in which a character moves along a game interface from a startingposition to a finish position, an “outcome” of the game may comprise asymbol representing one or more movements along the interface and the“result” corresponding to this outcome may be the particular number anddirection of the character's movement (e.g., three (3) spaces backwardssuch that the character ends up further away from the finish line). In asession embodiment, a session result may comprise a binary result (e.g.,a player or game character wins or loses the session) and/or theparticular award (or magnitude of award) won or earned by the playerbased on the session (e.g., the number of credits awarded to theplayer). It should be noted that the embodiments described in thisdisclosure encompass awards, prizes, and payouts which are monetary,non-monetary, tangible, or intangible.

As used in this disclosure, the term “virtual currency” may generallyrefer to an in-game currency that may be used as part of a game or oneor more games provided by a game provider as (i) currency for makingwagers, and/or (ii) to purchase or access various in-game items,features, or powers.

A “credit balance”, as the term is used in this disclosure (unlessindicated otherwise), may generally refer to (i) a balance of currency,whether virtual currency and/or real currency, usable for making wagersin a game and/or (ii) another tracking mechanism for tracking a player'ssuccess or advancement in a game by deducting there from points or valuefor unsuccessful attempts at advancement and adding thereto points orvalue for successful attempts at advancement.

Some embodiments are descriptive of an “array” or “matrix” of symbols orgame outcomes. As utilized in this disclosure, the terms “array” and“matrix” generally refer to a group of symbols, numbers, and/orexpressions arranged in a plurality of rows and columns (or that can bereadily and appropriately represented mathematically as being soarranged). In some embodiments, the term “array” is utilized to refer toa multi-dimensional matrix or combination of matrices while the term“matrix” is utilized to refer to a two-dimensional set of symbols ornumbers (e.g., bingo tickets, slot reel symbols, and/or mathematicalrepresentations thereof). According to some embodiments, such as in thecase that an array and/or matrix is populated with graphical gamesymbols, the array or matrix may be output and/or displayed (e.g.,transmit to and/or rendered on a player device) as part of a gamesession.

Some embodiments of this disclosure relate to bingo games and/orcomputer software applications for providing bingo games. Someembodiments of this disclosure relate to gaming networks for providingbingo games, including social network games, single player games and/ormultiplayer games.

According to some embodiments, a bingo game is provided in which aplayer uses one or more cards (or tickets, or other type of physical orelectronic game play area or game space) that include symbols (e.g.,alphanumeric characters and/or other types of identifiers) assigned torespective spaces or other designated areas on the card. One or moresymbols are drawn, selected, or otherwise determined from a set ofsymbols available for the bingo game, and, in accordance with someembodiments, the drawn symbols are compared to the symbols designated onthe card to see if there are any matches. It will be readily understoodthat a set of symbols for a bingo game may include any range of numbers,multiple ranges of numbers, a non-sequential range of numbers,alphanumeric characters, non-numeric symbols, letters, punctuationmarks, and/or any other representation of information.

According to some embodiments, for a given bingo game, the distributionof bingo symbols across cards, and/or the distribution of the ticketsacross players, may be in accordance with one or more distributionalgorithms and/or at random. In some embodiments, a bingo systemgenerates all possible combinations of available bingo symbols as cards,and distributes all of the possible cards before distributing any repeatcards.

According to some embodiments, if marked (or “daubed”) spaces on a cardform one or more previously designated arrangements (a “bingo pattern”or “winning pattern”), the card may be deemed a winning card and/or theplayer may be eligible for a prize. In one example, a player may win aprize by calling “Bingo” for a card with a winning pattern (e.g., byclicking a “Bingo” button of a game interface to indicate the playerthinks his electronic bingo card includes a winning bingo pattern).“Daubed” or “marked” will be used synonymously in this disclosure torefer to spaces, symbols, numbers, etc., on a card that have beenmarked, covered, stamped, daubed, highlighted, or otherwise identifiedphysically, visually, and/or graphically, as potentially contributing toa winning pattern (e.g., alone or in combination with one or more othermarked spaces). In some embodiments, spaces are daubed (e.g.,automatically by a gaming device and/or manually by a player) if theymatch symbols drawn for a bingo game. Alternatively, or in addition, oneor more spaces may be daubed without requiring that the space match adrawn symbol (a “free” daub or mark). For example, a card may have oneor more free daubs automatically prior to the start of play (e.g., thecenter square of a 5×5 grid may be pre-marked with a free daub) and/oranytime during play (e.g., by receiving a free random daub in accordancewith a game rule).

According to one embodiment, a card includes spaces arranged in columnsand rows (e.g., a 5×5 grid of spaces, a 3×4 array of ticket lines), eachhaving a designated number (e.g., selected from a set of bingo numbers1-75) represented in a respective space on the card.

According to one embodiment, the card may include one or more types oflocation identifiers. Location identifiers may include, withoutlimitation, one or more column identifiers, row identifiers, and/orother types of identifiers that uniquely identify a particular gridspace, row, column, area, or other portion of a bingo card. For example,each column of a 5×5 bingo card may be identified respectively as “B,”“I,” “N,” “G,” or “0.”

According to some embodiments, each symbol for a bingo game may beassociated with one or more respective location identifiers. In oneembodiment, certain symbols may be designated only in certain areas of agame card. For example, the “B” column of a 5×5 card may only includenumbers selected in the range of 1-15. In another example, the firstcolumn of a 90-ball bingo game ticket may only include numbers selectedin the range of 1-10, the second column may only include numbersselected in the range of 11-20, and so on. Accordingly, in someembodiments, a given bingo symbol may be associated with both a number(or a shape, color, or other type of symbol identifier thatdistinguishes it from other symbols) and location information (e.g., acolumn identifier, row identifier, and/or other type of locationidentifier) including information about where the symbol may appear onthe card. In one example, a bingo ball may be associated with the number“3” and with a “B,” indicating that if it appears on a card it wouldappear in a designated “B” column of spaces.

According to some embodiments, symbols may be represented (e.g.,physically or electronically via a user interface) as numbered balls.Drawn numbers themselves may be referred to in this disclosure as“balls” for illustrative purposes and without limitation. As used inthis disclosure, a “symbol draw” or “ball draw” may be used to refer toa process for selecting or otherwise determining (e.g., at random)numbers or other types of symbols drawn for use in comparing to symbolson a card for a bingo game. “Drawn balls” and “drawn numbers” may beused for convenience to refer to symbols selected in a symbol draw, andit will be understood that such terms are not limited to balls ornumbers, but encompass any type of symbols drawn for a bingo game. Thoseof skill in the art will realize that the symbols used in an electronicbingo game may be displayed in any convenient fashion as deemedappropriate for a particular implementation, and that a simulated balldraw is merely one example. The number of balls drawn and the timing ofball draws may vary according to the desired type of bingo game.

According to some embodiments, a bingo game is played until at least onepredetermined winning pattern is established on a bingo card. In someembodiments, determining whether a winning pattern is marked properly ona card may comprise determining whether each marked space may becompared to a set of drawn symbols to verify that it is a valid mark andtherefore may qualify for or contribute to a winning pattern. In anotherexample, determining if a marked pattern is a winning pattern maycomprise determining whether any marked spaces are valid free daubs.According to some embodiments, a bingo game is played until apredetermined number of winning patterns are achieved (e.g., by one ormore players) and/or until a time limit expires.

According to some embodiments, a player must identify any matchesbetween drawn numbers and numbers designated on the player's card(s),the player must take action to daub spaces on the card (e.g., via a userinterface) in order to form potential winning patterns, and/or theplayer must take action to declare a card has one or more winningpatterns (e.g., by clicking a “Bingo” button). In one embodiment, one ormore daubed spaces may be undaubed by a player and/or bingo gameprogram. In one example, a player may undaub a space that the playermistakenly daubed. In some embodiments, one or more matching numbers maybe daubed automatically and/or one or more winning patterns of markedspaces may be identified automatically (e.g., electronically by gamingdevice in accordance with instructions of a computer software program).Some embodiments may provide for automatic daubing of one or more spaces(e.g., for initial free daubs and/or random free daubs during play) andfor manual daubing by the player of one or more spaces (e.g., inresponse to matching drawn numbers).

A. Systems

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a bingo game bingo gamesystem 100 according to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments,the bingo game system 100 may comprise a bingo gaming platform such as abingo game platform via which social, multiplayer, and/or online bingogames may be played (e.g., one or more bingo games as described in thisdisclosure, among others). In some embodiments, the bingo game system100 may comprise a plurality of client or player devices, such as, forexample, a mobile client device 140 and/or a desktop client device 130.Players, for example, may use these player devices to access bingo playvia the bingo game system 100. For example, the mobile client device 140may communicate with a game webserver cluster 108 and a bingo connectionproxy cluster 124. In another example, the desktop client device 140 maycommunicate with a game webserver cluster 108 and a bingo broadcastercluster 118. It will be readily understood that although when describingsome embodiments reference may be made to a “cluster” of devices,embodiments of the present invention are not limited to only a pluralityof such devices. Some embodiments may comprise only one of any giventype of device.

In some embodiments, the game webserver cluster 108 may act as aninterface between a plurality of players and at least one bingo server.In one or more embodiments, the game webserver cluster 108 provides login functionality, website navigation, game lobby functionality, and/orgame user interface (UI) assets. In one embodiment, the game webservercluster 108 receives a player request to purchase one or more bingogames, and passes such purchase requests to a bingo game server (e.g.,of bingo game server cluster 106).

In some embodiments, to aid with speed and responsiveness and theability to scale as use fluctuates, even with respect to large amountsof data and/or a high volume of data requests, data collected by thegame webserver cluster 108 may be cached using a high-volume datamanagement cache 112 (e.g., BigMemory™ in-memory, data managementservice by Terracotta).

In one or more embodiments, the game webserver cluster 108 maycommunicate with the bingo game server cluster 106, comprising one ormore specialized bingo game servers. A bingo game server of bingo gameserver cluster 106, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention, may store logic enabling the purchase of bingo games and/orthe management of bingo game play. A specialized bingo game server inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention may, forexample, be specially configured to simultaneously call multiple gamenumbers, in addition to being configured to generate one or more bingonumber calls, to generate one or more (conventional) player ticketnumbers, to determine one or more winners of a bingo game, and/or todetermine a distribution of prizes. Other examples of processes that maybe performed by a bingo game server of bingo game server cluster 106(directly or indirectly) may include, but are not limited to: (i)determining a set of available numbers and/or other types of bingosymbols for a bingo game; (ii) conducting a symbol draw or otherwisedetermining or selecting (e.g., at random) which symbols, of a pluralityof bingo symbols available (e.g., depending on the type of bingo game),are drawn for a particular round of a bingo game; (iii) transmitting anindication of at least one drawn symbol to a player device; (iv)determining one or more drawn symbols that are in play for a bingo game(e.g., that previously may have been visible and/or queued but not yetavailable for play); (v) transmitting an indication of at least onedrawn and queued symbol to a player device; (vi) determining and/ortransmitting (e.g., to a player device) one or more cards, tickets, orother type of bingo game space for a bingo game; (vii) determining oneor more players of a bingo game; (viii) determining and/or establishingat least one winning pattern for a bingo game; (ix) determining at leastone bingo card having at least one valid winning pattern (e.g., ofdaubed spaces); (x) determining an outcome of a bingo game; (xi)transmitting an indication of an outcome of a bingo game to a playerdevice; (xii) determining one or more drawn symbols that are queued tobe enabled for play in a bingo game (e.g., but are not yet available forplay); (xiii) determining one or more drawn symbols for which respectivevisual representations are (or are to be) made visible to one or moreplayers; (xiv) authorizing a game program to be downloaded to a playerdevice; and/or (xv) modifying (and/or directing a player device tomodify) a game interface (e.g., to provide for electronic gaming).

According to some embodiments, a bingo game server of bingo game servercluster 106 may store game data in a database 104, and may transmit gamedata to a bingo broadcaster cluster 118 via message service 116. In someembodiments, message service 116 may comprise a scalable, asynchronousmessage service such as a Java™ message service (JMS) (e.g., JBoss® A-MQby Red Hat or ActiveMQ™ by Apache).

The database 104 may store, for example, game data (e.g., processedand/or defined by a specially-programmed bingo game server of bingo gameserver cluster 106), data associated with players (e.g., playersinteracting with the bingo game servers via a mobile client device 140and/or a desktop client device 130), and/or specialized instructionsthat cause various devices (e.g., of the bingo game server 106,scheduler server cluster 114, game webserver cluster 108, bingobroadcaster cluster 118, bingo controller cluster 102, bingo connectionproxy cluster 124, the devices 130, and/or the devices 140) to operatein accordance with embodiments described in this disclosure.

A bingo game server in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention and/or one or more of the devices 130, 140, stores and/or hasaccess to data useful for facilitating play of a bingo game. Forexample, a bingo game server and/or the mobile client device 140 maystore (i) one or more probability databases for determining one or moreoutcome(s) for a game, (ii) a current state or status of a game or gamesession, (iii) one or more user interfaces for use in a game, (iv) oneor more game themes for a game and/or (v) profiles or other personalinformation associated with a player of a game. It should be noted thatin some embodiments such data may be stored on the bingo game server andinformation based on such data may be output to a player's device duringplay of a game, while in other embodiments a game program may bedownloaded to a local memory of a player's device and thus such data maybe stored on a player's device (e.g., in encrypted or other secure ortamper-resistant form).

According to some embodiments, any or all of the components of examplebingo game system 100 may conduct (in whole or in part), facilitate,and/or otherwise be associated with execution of one or more storedprocedures, applications, processes, and/or methods (e.g., the method900 in this disclosure, and/or one or more portions and/or combinationsthereof) as described in this disclosure.

According to some embodiments, a bingo player may, for example, connectto the bingo broadcaster cluster 118 via a desktop client device toacquire bingo game data and play a bingo game. In one or moreembodiments, the bingo broadcaster cluster 118 sends information, suchas number calls (e.g., determined by and received from a bingo gameserver) and/or winner information, to the bingo game player in a mannerthat provides for an enjoyable game play experience.

In some embodiments, the bingo broadcaster cluster 118 may also providegame data to users of mobile devices (e.g., mobile device client 140).In one embodiment, a bingo broadcaster may communicate game data to themobile device client 140 by forwarding the game data first to a bingolistener 120, such as a Java™-based messaging component, which thenforwards the information to a message broker 122 (e.g., an ActiveMQ™channel) and then to a bingo connection proxy cluster 124 incommunication with a client mobile device 140.

The bingo game server cluster 106 may also, in accordance with someembodiments, manage requests to purchase bingo game tickets and awardprizes to bingo game winners. A bingo controller cluster 102 accordingto some embodiments of the present invention may be specially programmedto communicate with the bingo game server cluster 106 to providescheduling information to create and schedule bingo games, providinginformation such as the start and end times for multiple games, insuccession, simultaneously, or both. For example, the bingo controllercluster 102 may communicate with the database 104 to read storedschedules for games. The bingo controller cluster 102 may, in someembodiments, create new bingo games based on a stored schedule for apredetermined time period (e.g., a 24-hour time frame). According to oneembodiment, once new bingo games are created, the bingo game servercluster 106 may then be informed (e.g., by a bingo controller) as towhat games are available, and can sell these bingo games at appropriatetimes (e.g., in accordance with a schedule), as indicated by the bingocontroller cluster 102.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, a bingo game mayprovide a bonus game at the end of bingo play. The bonus game may not beconsidered part of the initial bingo game, so in some embodiments, ascheduler server cluster 114 may be used by the bingo game system 100 toset a schedule, or otherwise alter the existing bingo game schedules, toallow time for bonus game play. This schedule server cluster 114 may, insome embodiments, communicate with the bingo game server cluster 106. Inone or more embodiments, information from the schedule server cluster114 may be cached in the high-volume data management cache 112.

Accordingly, Applicants have provided for specialized bingo gameservers, controllers, and systems providing for advantages ofscalability and accommodating communication with a variety of types ofclient devices, and, in accordance with some embodiments, furtherconfigured to provide for the specialized functions of one or more typesof bingo games.

According to some embodiments, a bingo game server may comprise acomputing device for facilitating play of a bingo game (e.g., byreceiving an input from a player, determining an outcome for a bingogame, causing an outcome of a bingo game to be displayed on a playerdevice, facilitating a wager and/or a provision of a payout for a bingogame). For example, the bingo game server may comprise a server computeroperated by a bingo game provider or another entity (e.g., a socialnetwork website). In some embodiments, the game server may determine anoutcome for a first aspect and/or second aspect of a bingo game byrequesting and receiving such an outcome from another remote serveroperable to provide such outcomes. In some embodiments, the bingo gameserver may further be operable to facilitate a bingo game program for abingo game (e.g., a wagering game). In accordance with some embodiments,in addition to administering or facilitating play of a bingo game, abingo game server may comprise one or more computing devices responsiblefor handling online processes such as, but not limited to: serving awebsite comprising one or more games to a player device and/orprocessing transactions (e.g., wagers, deposits into financial accounts,managing accounts, controlling games, etc.). In some embodiments, abingo game server may comprise two or more server computers operated bythe same entity (e.g., one server being primarily for storing states ofgames in progress and another server being primarily for storingmechanisms for determining outcomes of games, such as a random numbergenerator).

In accordance with some embodiments, a player's device 130 and/or device140 may be used to play a wagering or non-wagering bingo game over anetwork and to output information relating to the game to the playerparticipating in the game (e.g., outcomes for a round of a bingo game,numbers to call simultaneously for a bingo game session, qualifying fora level upgrade in the game, balance of credits available for play ofthe game, etc.). Any and all information relevant to any of theaforementioned functions may be stored locally on one or more of aplayers devices and/or may be accessed using one or more of the player'sdevices (in one embodiments such information being stored on, orprovided via, the bingo game server). In another embodiment, a player'sdevice may store some or all of the program instructions for providingone or more of the functions described with respect to bingo game server(e.g., in a downloadable software application). In some embodiments, thebingo game server may be operable to authorize the one or more of theplayer's devices to access such information and/or program instructionsremotely via a network and/or download from the bingo game server (e.g.,directly or via an intermediary server such as a game webserver) some orall of the program code for executing one or more of the variousfunctions described in this disclosure. In other embodiments, outcomeand result determinations may be carried out by a bingo game server (oranother server with which the bingo game server communicates) and aplayer's devices may be terminals for displaying to an associated playersuch outcomes and results and other graphics and data related to a bingogame.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a bingo game system 200according to some embodiments is shown. The bingo game system 200, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention, may comprisea database 202, a controller 204, a bingo game server 206, a broadcaster208, and a client 210. As depicted in FIG. 2, a client device 210 of aplayer may initiate (e.g., via a gaming website) a purchase of a stripof one or more bingo game tickets from a bingo game server 206. Thebingo game server 206 may then generate and store tickets for the playeron a database 202.

In some embodiments, as depicted in bingo game system 200, the database202 may be in communication with a controller 204. The controller 204may, for example, poll the database 202 for a gaming schedule stored inthe database, and read a schedule provided by the controller 204. Basedon this information, the controller 204 may then create a game whichmay, in turn, be stored by the database 202.

In one or more embodiments, a player's gaming experience may or may notbe affected by game data which may include, for example, the playersgame play history (e.g., stored in the database 202). For example, thedatabase 202 may store information concerning game winners, and may sendthis information to the bingo game server 206, which may then use thisdata to affect the game in one or more ways described in thisspecification. The bingo game server 206, in some examples, may sendgame data to the broadcaster 208 to control what is broadcast to theclient device 210 (e.g., based on how the bingo game server 206 may havealtered the game). In some embodiments, the bingo game server 206affects both game data and winner timings based on data stored in thedatabase 202.

In one or more embodiments, once a game is created, the controller 204may set a timer to determine when the next game should begin. Once thegame is scheduled to begin, the controller 204 may, in some examples,communicate with the bingo game server 206 to begin game play. The bingogame server 206 then preferably communicates with the broadcaster 208 tobegin game play. The broadcaster 208, in turn, broadcasts the startedgame to the client 210. Once game play is initiated, the broadcaster 208may communicate with the client device 210 directly. According to someembodiments, the client device 210 may comprise, without limitation, aplayer's tablet computer, desktop computer, or mobile device. Asdepicted with respect to functions of the bingo game system 200, thebroadcaster 208 may, for example, communicate a plurality of ball callsin real time, present winner messages if applicable, and provide “gameover” signals. In one or more embodiments, the game outcome and winnersmay be determined by the bingo game server 206. In some embodiments, forexample, the controller 204 may alert the bingo game server 206 as tothe end of game play (e.g., upon the completion of the first line,second line, and full house winners), and the bingo game server 206facilitates payment of the winners (e.g., by initiating the transfer ofwinnings to a player accounts).

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of a system 300 according tosome embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the system 300 maycomprise a gaming platform such as a platform via which social,multiplayer, and/or online games may be played (e.g., one or more bingogames as described in this disclosure). In some embodiments, the system300 may comprise a plurality of player devices 302 a-n, the Internet304, a load balancer 306, and/or a game server cluster 310. The gameserver cluster 310 may, in some embodiments, comprise a plurality ofgame servers 310 a-n. In some embodiments, the system 300 may comprise acache persistor 320, a Simple Queuing Service (SQS) device 322, a taskscheduler 324, an e-mail service device 326, and/or a query servicedevice 328. As depicted in FIG. 3, any or all of the various components302 a-n, 304, 306, 310 a-n, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328 may be incommunication with and/or coupled to one or more databases 340 a-f. Thesystem 300 may comprise, for example, a dynamic database (DB) 340 a, acloud-based cache cluster 340 b (e.g., comprising a game state cache 340b-1, a bingo cache 340 b-2, and/or a “hydra” cache 340 b-3), anon-relational DB 340 c, a remote DB service 340 d, a persistence DB 340e, and/or a reporting DB 340 f.

According to some embodiments, any or all of the components 302 a-n,304, 306, 310 a-n, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 340 a-f of the system 300may be similar in configuration and/or functionality to any similarlynamed and/or numbered components described in this disclosure. Fewer ormore components 302 a-n, 304, 306, 310 a-n, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 340a-f (and/or portions thereof) and/or various configurations of thecomponents 302 a-n, 304, 306, 310 a-n, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 340 a-fmay be included in the system 300 without deviating from the scope ofembodiments described in this disclosure. While multiple instances ofsome components 302 a-n, 310 a-n, 340 a-f are depicted and while singleinstances of other components 304, 306, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328 aredepicted, for example, any component 302 a-n, 304, 306, 310 a-n, 320,322, 324, 326, 328, 340 a-f depicted in the system 300 may comprise asingle device, a combination of devices and/or components 302 a-n, 304,306, 310 a-n, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 340 a-f, and/or a plurality ofdevices, as is or becomes desirable and/or practicable. Similarly, insome embodiments, one or more of the various components 302 a-n, 304,306, 310 a-n, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 340 a-f may not be needed and/ordesired in the system 300.

According to some embodiments, the player devices 302 a-n may beutilized to access (e.g., via the Internet 304 and/or one or more othernetworks not explicitly shown) content provided by the game servercluster 310. The game server cluster 310 may, for example, provide,manage, host, and/or conduct various online and/or otherwise electronicgames such as online bingo, slot-style games, poker, and/or other gamesof chance, skill, and/or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, thevarious game servers 310 a-n (virtual and/or physical) of the gameserver cluster 310 may be configured to provide, manage, host, and/orconduct individual instances and/or sessions of available game types. Afirst game server 310 a, for example, may host a first particularsession of an online bingo game (or tournament), a second game server310 c may host a second particular session of an online bingo game (ortournament), a third game server 310 c may facilitate an online pokertournament (e.g., and a corresponding plurality of game sessions thatcomprise the tournament), and/or a fourth game server 310 d may providean online slots game (e.g., by hosting one or more slot game sessions).

In some embodiments, the player devices 302 a-n may comprise variouscomponents (hardware, firmware, and/or software; not explicitly shown)that facilitate game play and/or interaction with the game servercluster 310. The player device 302 a-n may, for example, comprise agaming client such as a software application programmed in Adobe® Flash®and/or HTML5 that is configured to send requests to, and receiveresponses from, one or more of the game servers 310 a-n of the gameserver cluster 310. In some embodiments, such an application operatingon and/or via the player devices 302 a-n may be configured inmodel-view-controller (MVC) architecture with a communication managerlayer responsible for managing the requests to/responses from the gameserver cluster 310. In some embodiments, one or more of the game servers310 a-n may also or alternatively be configured in a MVC architecturewith a communication manager and/or communications management layer (notexplicitly shown in FIG. 3). In some embodiments, communications betweenthe player devices 302 a-n and the game server cluster 310 may beconducted in accordance with the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)version 1.1 (HTTP/1.1) as published by the Internet EngineeringTaskforce (IET) and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in RFC 2616(June 1999).

According to some embodiments, communications between the player devices302 a-n and the game server cluster 310 may be managed and/orfacilitated by the load balancer 306. The load balancer 306 may, forexample, route communications from player devices 302 a-n to one or moreof the specific game servers 310 a-n depending upon various attributesand/or variables such as bandwidth availability (e.g., trafficmanagement/volumetric load balancing), server load (e.g., processingload balancing), server functionality (e.g., contextualawareness/availability), and/or player-server history (e.g., sessionawareness/“stickiness”). In some embodiments, the load balancer 306 maycomprise one or more devices and/or services provided by a third-party(not separately shown in FIG. 3). The load balancer 306 may, forexample, comprise an elastic load balancer (ELB) service provided byAmazon® Web Services, LLC of Seattle, Wash. According to someembodiments, such as in the case that the load balancer 306 comprisesthe ELB or a similar service, the load balancer 306 may manage, set,determine, define, and/or otherwise influence the number of game servers310 a-n within the game server cluster 310. In the case that trafficand/or requests from the player devices 302 a-n only require the firstand second game servers 310 a-b, for example, all other game servers 310c-n may be taken off-line, may not be initiated and/or called, and/ormay otherwise not be required and/or utilized in the system 300. Asdemand increases (and/or if performance, security, and/or other issuescause one or more of the first and second game servers 310 a-b toexperience detrimental issues), the load balancer 306 may call and/orbring online one or more of the other game servers 310 c-n depicted inFIG. 3. In the case that each game server 310 a-n comprises an instanceof a resizable compute capacity service, such as the Amazon ElasticCompute Cloud™ (Amazon EC2™) web service provided by Amazon WebServices, Inc., the load balancer 306 may add or remove instances as isor becomes practicable and/or desirable.

In some embodiments, the load balancer 306 and/or the Internet 304 maycomprise one or more proxy servers and/or devices (not shown in FIG. 3)via which communications between the player devices 302 a-n and the gameserver cluster 310 are conducted and/or routed. Such proxy serversand/or devices may comprise one or more regional game hosting centers,for example, which may be geographically dispersed and addressable byplayer devices 302 a-n in a given geographic proximity. In someembodiments, the proxy servers and/or devices may be located in one ormore geographic areas and/or jurisdictions while the game server cluster310 (and/or certain game servers 310 a-n and/or groups of game servers310 a-n thereof) is located in a separate and/or remote geographic areaand/or jurisdiction.

According to some embodiments, for specific game types such as bingo,the game server cluster 310 may provide game results (such as a full setof drawn bingo numbers and/or bonus metrics) to a controller device (notseparately shown in FIG. 3) that times the release of game resultinformation to the player devices 302 a-n such as by utilizing abroadcaster device (also not separately shown in FIG. 3) that transmitsthe time-released game results to the player devices 302 a-n (e.g., inaccordance with the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and InternetProtocol (IP) suite of communications protocols (TCP/IP), version 4, asdefined by “Transmission Control Protocol” RFC 793 and/or “InternetProtocol” RFC 791, Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA),published by the Information Sciences Institute, University of SouthernCalifornia, J. Postel, ed. (September 1981)).

In some embodiments, the game server cluster 310 (and/or one or more ofthe game servers 310 a-n thereof) may be in communication with thedynamic DB 340 a. According to some embodiments, the dynamic DB 340 amay comprise a dynamically-scalable database service such as theDyanmoDB™ service provided by Amazon Web Services, Inc. The dynamic DB340 a may, for example, store information specific to one or morecertain game types (e.g., bingo games) provided by the game servercluster 310 such as to allow, permit, and/or facilitate reporting and/oranalysis of such information.

According to some embodiments, the game server cluster 310 (and/or oneor more of the game servers 310 a-n thereof) may be in communicationwith the cloud-based cache cluster 340 b. Game state information fromthe game server cluster 310 may be stored in the game state cache 340b-1; bingo state data (e.g., the current state of spaces (marked orunmarked) of a players bingo card, history of called balls, informationabout ball call order, etc.) may be stored in the bingo cache 340 b-2;and/or other game and/or player information (e.g., progressive data,referral data, player rankings, audit data) may be stored in the hydracache 340 b-3. In some embodiments, the cache persistor 320 may moveand/or copy data stored in the cloud-based cache cluster 340 b to thenon-relational DB 340 c. The non-relational DB 340 c may, for example,comprise a SimpleDB™ service provided by Amazon Web Services, Inc.According to some embodiments, the game server cluster 310 may generallyaccess the cloud-based cache cluster 340 b as-needed to store and/orretrieve game-related information. The data stored in the cloud-basedcache cluster 340 b may generally comprise a subset of the newest orfreshest data, while the cache persistor 320 may archive and/or store ormove such data to the non-relational DB 340 c as it ages and/or becomesless relevant (e.g., once a player logs-off, once a game session and/ortournament ends). The game server cluster 310 may, in accordance withsome embodiments, have access to the non-relational DB 340 c as-neededand/or desired. The game servers 310 a-n may, for example, beinitialized with data from the non-relational DB 340 c and/or may storeand/or retrieve low frequency and/or low priority data via thenon-relational DB 340 c.

In some embodiments, the SQS device 322 may queue and/or otherwisemanage requests, messages, events, and/or other tasks or calls to and/orfrom the server cluster 310. The SQS device 322 may, for example,prioritize and/or route requests between the game server cluster 310 andthe task scheduler 324. In some embodiments, the SQS device 322 mayprovide mini-game and/or tournament information to the server cluster310. According to some embodiments, the task scheduler 324 may initiatecommunications with the SQS device 322, the e-mail service provider 326(e.g., providing e-mail lists), the remote DB service 340 d (e.g.,providing inserts and/or updates), and/or the persistence DB 340 e(e.g., providing and/or updating game, player, and/or other reportingdata), e.g., in accordance with one or more schedules.

According to some embodiments, the persistence DB 340 e may comprise adata store of live environment game and/or player data. The game servercluster 310 and/or the task scheduler 324 or SQS device 322 may, forexample, store game and/or player data to the persistence DB 340 eand/or may pull and/or retrieve data from the persistence DB 340 e,as-needed and/or desired. The server cluster 310 may, according to someembodiments, provide and/or retrieve spin and/or other game event infoand/or configuration information via the persistence DB 340 e.

In some embodiments, the reporting DB 340 f may be created and/orpopulated based on the persistence DB 340 e. On a scheduled and/or otherbasis, for example, a data transformation and/or mapping program may beutilized to pull data from the live environment (e.g., the persistenceDB 340 e) into the reporting DB 340 f. The query service 328 may then beutilized, for example, to query the reporting DB 340 f, without taxingthe live environment and/or production system directly accessible by thegame server cluster 310.

According to some embodiments, any or all of the player devices 302 a-nin conjunction with one or more of the game servers 310 a-n and/or thedatabases 340 a-f (e.g., via the network 304) may conduct (in whole orin part), facilitate, and/or otherwise be associated with execution ofone or more stored procedures, applications, processes, and/or methods(e.g., the method 900 in this disclosure, and/or one or more portionsand/or combinations thereof) as described in this disclosure.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a block diagram of a system 400 according to someembodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the system 400 may compriseand/or define a “front-end” architecture of a gaming platform such as aplatform via which social, multiplayer, and/or online games may beplayed (e.g., one or more bingo games as described in this disclosure).In some embodiments, the system 400 may comprise a plurality of userdevices 402 a-b, a plurality of networks 404 a-b (e.g., a primaryservice provider network 404 a, a secondary service provider network 404b, a production network 404 c, and/or a VPN 404 d), a plurality ofrouters 406 a-b, a plurality of firewall devices 408 a-b, a plurality ofgame servers 410 a-g (e.g., web servers 410 a, application servers 410b, messaging broker servers 410 c, game broadcaster servers 410 d, chatservers 410 e, database servers 410 f, and/or management and monitoringservers 410 g), and/or an application delivery controller cluster 422.

According to some embodiments, any or all of the components 402 a-b, 404a-b, 406 a-b, 408 a-b, 410 a-g, 422 of the system 400 may be similar inconfiguration and/or functionality to any similarly named and/ornumbered components described in this disclosure. Fewer or morecomponents 402 a-b, 404 a-b, 406 a-b, 408 a-b, 410 a-g, 422 (and/orportions thereof) and/or various configurations of the components 402a-b, 404 a-b, 406 a-b, 408 a-b, 410 a-g, 422 may be included in thesystem 400 without deviating from the scope of embodiments described inthis disclosure. While multiple instances of some components 402 a-b,404 a-b, 406 a-b, 408 a-b, 410 a-g are depicted and while singleinstances of other components 422 are depicted, for example, anycomponent 402 a-b, 404 a-b, 406 a-b, 408 a-b, 410 a-g, 422 depicted inthe system 400 may comprise a single device, a combination of devicesand/or components 402 a-b, 404 a-b, 406 a-b, 408 a-b, 410 a-g, 422,and/or a plurality of devices, as is or becomes desirable and/orpracticable. Similarly, in some embodiments, one or more of the variouscomponents 402 a-b, 404 a-b, 406 a-b, 408 a-b, 410 a-g, 422 may not beneeded and/or desired in the system 400.

In some embodiments, a first user device 402 a may comprise anelectronic device owned and/or operated by a player of an online game(not explicitly shown) and/or by an entity that otherwise accessesonline game content and/or services externally (e.g., requiring externallogin and/or access credentials and/or procedures). The first userdevice 402 a may, for example, be utilized to access content provided byand/or via the application delivery controller cluster 422. In someembodiments, the first user device 402 a may interface with and/orconnect to the production network 404 c via the primary service providernetwork 404 a and/or the secondary service provider network 404 b. Theprimary service provider network 404 a and the secondary serviceprovider network 404 b may, for example, load balance and/or provideredundant coverage for outage recovery by utilization of a first primaryservice provider network router 406 a-1, a second primary serviceprovider network router 406 a-2, a first secondary service providernetwork router 406 b-1, and/or a second secondary service providernetwork router 406 b-2.

According to some embodiments, the application delivery controllercluster 422 may be insulated and/or protected from the productionnetwork 404 c by an external firewall cluster 408 a. The first userdevice 402 a may, for example, be required to provide credentials toand/or otherwise access the application delivery controller cluster 422via the external firewall cluster 408 a.

In some embodiments, the application delivery controller cluster 422 mayreceive via and/or from the external firewall cluster 408 a and/or theproduction network 404 c, one or more requests, calls, transmissions,and/or commands from the first user device 402 a. The first user device402 a may, for example, submit a call for an online gaming interface tothe application delivery controller cluster 422. In some embodiments,the application delivery controller cluster 422 may comprise one or morehardware, software, and/or firmware devices and/or modules configured(e.g., specially-programmed) to route events and/or responses betweenthe first user device 402 a and one or more of the servers 410 a-g. Inthe case that the first user device 402 a is utilized to access anonline gaming interface for example, one or more of the web servers 410a (e.g., that may provide graphical and/or rendering elements for aninterface and/or other web services) and/or the application servers 410b (e.g., that may provide rule and/or logic-based programming routines,elements, and/or functions—e.g., game play engines) may be called and/ormanaged by the application delivery controller cluster 422.

In some embodiments, the messaging broker servers 410 c may receiveand/or retrieve messages from the first user device 402 a (and/or fromone or more of the other servers 410 a-b, 410 d-g) and perform one ormore inter-application processes in relation thereto. The messagingbroker servers 410 c may, for example, route, transform, consolidate,aggregate, store, augment, and/or otherwise process one or more requestsin connection with provision of online gaming services to the first userdevice 402 a (e.g., facilitating a decoupling of services provided byvarious applications on and/or from the various servers 410 a-b, 410d-g). According to some embodiments, the game broadcaster servers 410 dmay provide scheduled releases of information descriptive of an onlinegame. The game broadcaster servers 410 d may, for example, provide abroadcast feed of bingo numbers, slot and/or other random (and/orpseudo-random) number results that may be accessed by (and/ortransmitted to) the first user device 402 a (e.g., in connection withthe play of an online bingo, slots, and/or other game for whichbroadcast information may be utilized). In some embodiments, the chatservers 410 e may provide, manage, and/or facilitate communicationsbetween the first user device 402 a (and/or first user thereof) and oneor more other player/user devices (such as a second user device 402 band/or other player/user devices not shown in FIG. 4).

According to some embodiments, the second user device 402 b maygenerally comprise an electronic device owned and/or operated by a user(not shown) closely affiliated with an entity that operates the system400 (such entity also not shown). An employee (e.g., programmer and/orCustomer Service Representative (CSR)), contractor, and/or other agentof an online gaming company may, for example, utilize the second userdevice 402 b to interface with the privately-accessible VPN 404 d. TheVPN 404 d may, for example, provide direct access to the applicationservers 410 b, the database servers 410 f, the management and monitoringservers 410 g, and/or the application delivery controller cluster 422.In some embodiments (as depicted in FIG. 4), such access may be gatedthrough and/or insulated or protected by an internal firewall cluster408 b. The second user device 402 b may, for example, be required toprovide credentials to and/or otherwise access the application deliverycontroller cluster 422 and/or servers 410 a-g via the internal firewallcluster 408 b.

In some embodiments, the database servers 410 f may provide access toone or more databases and/or data stores (e.g., not shown in FIG. 4; fordata storage and/or retrieval). In some embodiments, the management andmonitoring servers 410 g may provide services such as monitoring,reporting, troubleshooting, analysis, configuring, etc. to the seconduser device 402 b. The second user device 402 b may, for example, accessthe management and monitoring servers 410 g and/or the database servers410 f to run reports descriptive of online gaming operations, game play,and/or game referral setup, management, and/or analysis. According tosome embodiments, either or both of the user devices 402 a-b inconjunction with one or more of the servers 410 a-g and/or theapplication delivery controller cluster 422 may conduct (in whole or inpart), facilitate, and/or otherwise be associated with execution of oneor more stored procedures, applications, processes, and/or methods(e.g., the method 900 in this disclosure, and/or one or more portionsand/or combinations thereof).

Utilization of the term “server” with respect to the servers 410 a-g ofthe system 400 of FIG. 4 is meant solely to ease description of theconfiguration and/or functionality of the servers 410 a-g. The term“server” is not intended to be limiting with respect to any particularhardware, software, firmware, and/or quantities thereof utilized toimplement any or all of the servers 410 a-g of the system 400.Similarly, while multiple types and/or instances of the servers 410 a-gare depicted in FIG. 4, any or all of the servers 410 a-g may beimplemented in, on, and/or by one or multiple computer server and/orother electronic devices.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a block diagram of a system 500 according tosome embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the system 500 maycomprise and/or define a “front-end” architecture of a gaming platformsuch as a platform via which social, multiplayer, and/or online gamesmay be played (e.g., one or more bingo games as described in thisdisclosure). The system 500 may be similar in configuration and/orfunctionality, for example, to the system 400 of FIG. 4 and/or one ormore portions thereof. In some embodiments, the system 500 may comprisea user device 502, a plurality of networks (and/or environments and/orlayers) 504 a-j (e.g., the Internet 504 a, a distributeddenial-of-service (DDoS) protection layer 504 b, a primary transitprovider layer 504 c, a secondary transit provider layer 504 d, apre-production (PP) environment 504 e, a live environment 504 f, a LAN504 g, a backend environment 504 h, a PP backend layer 504 i, and/or alive backend layer 504 j), a plurality of routers 506 b-d, a pluralityof firewall devices 508 e-g and 508 i-j, a plurality of servers 510 e-f(e.g., a PP server cluster 510 e and/or a live server cluster 510 f), aplurality of switching devices 522 a, 522 e-f, 522 i-j, a terminalconcentrator (TC) 524 f, a plurality of “hydra” services 530 i-j (e.g.,a PP hydra service 530 i and/or a live hydra service 530 j), and/or aplurality of power distribution unit (PDU) devices 552 e-f.

According to some embodiments, any or all of the components 502, 504a-j, 506 b-d, 508 e-g, 508 i-j, 510 e-f, 522 a, 522 e-f, 522 i-j, 524 f,530 i-j, 552 e-f of the system 500 may be similar in configurationand/or functionality to any similarly named and/or numbered componentsdescribed in this disclosure. Fewer or more components 502, 504 a-j, 506b-d, 508 e-g, 508 i-j, 510 e-f, 522 a, 522 e-f, 522 i-j, 524 f, 530 i-j,552 e-f (and/or portions thereof) and/or various configurations of thecomponents 502, 504 a-j, 506 b-d, 508 e-g, 508 i-j, 510 e-f, 522 a, 522e-f, 522 i-j, 524 f, 530 i-j, 552 e-f may be included in the system 500without deviating from the scope of embodiments described in thisdisclosure. While multiple instances of some components 504 a-j, 506b-d, 508 e-g, 508 i-j, 510 e-f, 522 a, 522 e-f, 522 i-j, 530 i-j, 552e-f are depicted and while single instances of other components 502, 524f are depicted, for example, any component 502, 504 a-j, 506 b-d, 508e-g, 508 i-j, 510 e-f, 522 a, 522 e-f, 522 i-j, 524 f, 530 i-j, 552 e-fdepicted in the system 500 may comprise a single device, a combinationof devices and/or components 502, 504 a-j, 506 b-d, 508 e-g, 508 i-j,510 e-f, 522 a, 522 e-f, 522 i-j, 524 f, 530 i-j, 552 e-f, and/or aplurality of devices, as is or becomes desirable and/or practicable.Similarly, in some embodiments, one or more of the various components502, 504 a-j, 506 b-d, 508 e-g, 508 i-j, 510 e-f, 522 a, 522 e-f, 522i-j, 524 f, 530 i-j, and 552 e-f may not be needed and/or desired in thesystem 500.

In some embodiments, the user device 502 may be utilized to access oneor more of the PP environment 504 e, the live environment 504 f, and/orthe backend environment 504 h via the Internet 504 a. In someembodiments, the user device 502 may be utilized to access the backendenvironment 504 h and/or the PP hydra service 530 i via the PP backendlayer 504 i. A PP backend switch device 522 i and/or a PP backendfirewall device 508 i may, for example, gate and/or control access tothe backend environment 504 h and/or the PP hydra service 530 i, via thePP backend layer 504 i. In some embodiments, the user device 502 may beutilized to access the backend environment 504 h and/or the live hydraservice 530 j via the live backend layer 504 j. A live backend switchdevice 522 j and/or a live backend firewall device 508 j may, forexample, gate and/or control access to the backend environment 504 hand/or the live hydra service 530 j, via the live backend layer 504 j.

According to some embodiments, any communications (e.g., requests,calls, and/or messages) from the user device 502 may be passed throughthe DDoS protection layer 504 b. The DDoS protection layer 504 b may,for example, monitor and/or facilitate protection against various formsof cyber attacks including, but not limited to, DDoS attacks. In someembodiments, the DDoS protection layer 504 b may comprise and/or be incommunication with a plurality of DDoS router devices 506 b-1, 506 b-2,506 b-3, 506 b-4 that may be utilized to route and/or direct incomingcommunications (e.g., from the user device 502) to appropriate portionsof the system 500.

In some embodiments, the DDoS protection layer 504 b and/or a first DDoSrouter device 506 b-1 may route communications from the user device 502through and/or via a first switch device 522 a-1 and/or to, through,and/or via a first primary transit provider router device 506 c-1. Insome embodiments, the first switch device 522 a-1 may comprise a deviceutilized for security switching such as may implement communications inaccordance with the generic routing encapsulation (GRE) communicationstunneling protocol described in RFC 2784 “Generic Routing Encapsulation(GRE)” published by the Network Working Group (NWG) in March, 2000. Thefirst primary transit provider router device 506 c-1 may, for example,provide access to the PP environment 504 e and/or the PP server cluster510 e thereof, such as via one or more PP firewall devices 508 e-1, 508e-2 and/or one or more PP switch devices 522 e-1, 522 e-2. According tosome embodiments, the PP switch devices 522 e-1, 522 e-2 may comprisecontent switching devices that process and route data (e.g., in the datalink layer) based on data content. In some embodiments, the firstprimary transit provider router device 506 c-1 may direct communicationsto, through, and/or via a PP LAN switch device 522 e-3 that providesand/or facilitates access to the LAN 504 g. The LAN 504 g may, forexample, provide private access to and/or between the PP environment 504e, the live environment 504 f, and/or the backend environment 504 h. Insome embodiments, the first primary transit provider router device 506c-1 and/or the PP LAN switch device 522 e-3 may direct communicationsto, through, and/or via a LAN firewall device 508 g that provides directaccess to either or both of the PP server cluster 510 e and the liveserver cluster 510 f.

According to some embodiments, the DDoS protection layer 504 b and/or asecond DDoS router device 506 b-2 may route communications from the userdevice 502 through and/or via a second switch device 522 a-2 and/or to,through, and/or via a first secondary transit provider router device 506d-1. In some embodiments, the second switch device 522 a-2 may comprisea device utilized for security switching such as may implementcommunications in accordance with the GRE communications tunnelingprotocol described in RFC 2784 “Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE)”published by the Network Working Group (NWG) in March, 2000. The firstsecondary transit provider router device 506 d-1 may, for example,provide access to the live environment 504 f and/or the live servercluster 510 f thereof, such as via one or more live firewall devices 508f-1, 508 f-2 and/or one or more live switch devices 522 f-1, 522 f-2.According to some embodiments, the live switch devices 522 f-1, 522 f-2may comprise content switching devices that process and route data(e.g., in the data link layer) based on data content. In someembodiments, the first secondary transit provider router device 506 d-1may direct communications to, through, and/or via a live LAN switchdevice 522 f-3 that provides and/or facilitates access to the LAN 504 g.In some embodiments, the first secondary transit provider router device506 d-1 and/or the live LAN switch device 522 f-3 may directcommunications to, through, and/or via the LAN firewall device 508 gthat provides direct access to either or both of the PP server cluster510 e and the live server cluster 510 f.

In some embodiments, the DDoS protection layer 504 b and/or one or moreof a third DDoS router device 506 b-3 and/or a fourth DDoS router device506 b-4 may route communications from the user device 502 through and/orvia one or more of the primary transit provider layer 504 c and/or thesecondary transit provider layer 504 d. In some embodiments, a transitprovider switch device 522 a-3 may direct, swap, route, and/or managecommunications between the primary transit provider layer 504 c and thesecondary transit provider layer 504 d. According to some embodiments,the transit provider switch device 522 a-3 may comprise a switchingdevice that operates in accordance with an Exterior Border GatewayProtocol (EBGP)—e.g., the transit provider switch device 522 a-3 maycomprise one or more edge or border routers. In some embodiments, thefirst primary transit provider router device 506 c-1, the firstsecondary transit provider router device 506 d-1, a second primarytransit provider router device 506 c-2, and/or a second secondarytransit provider router device 506 d-2 may be utilized to route and/ordirect communications between (i) the primary transit provider layer 504c and/or the secondary transit provider layer 504 d and (ii) the PPenvironment 504 e and/or the live environment 504 f.

According to some embodiments, the PP server cluster 510 e and/or the PPenvironment 504 e may comprise various hardware, software, and/orfirmware that permits a user (e.g., of the user device 502) to program,edit, manage, and/or otherwise interface with PP game elements and/orinterfaces (e.g., for development and/or testing purposes). In someembodiments, the PDU devices 552 e-1, 552 e-2 may generally providepower distribution, supply, management, backup, and/or conditioningservices (e.g., to the PP server cluster 510 e) as is or becomesdesired. According to some embodiments, additional switch devices 522e-4, 522 e-5 may be utilized to distribute, balance, manage, and/orcontrol communications to, from, and/or within the PP server cluster 510e.

In some embodiments, the live server cluster 510 f and/or the liveenvironment 504 f may comprise various hardware, software, and/orfirmware that permits a user (e.g., of the user device 502) to program,edit, manage, and/or otherwise interface with live game elements and/orinterfaces (e.g., for troubleshooting, corrective, and/or liveenvironment management purposes). In some embodiments, the PDU devices552 f-1, 552 f-2 may generally provide power distribution, supply,management, backup, and/or conditioning services (e.g., to the liveserver cluster 510 f) as is or becomes desired. According to someembodiments, additional switch devices 522 f-4, 522 f-5 may be utilizedto distribute, balance, manage, and/or control communications to, from,and/or within the live server cluster 510 f. In some embodiments, the TCdevice 524 f may be utilized to manage communications from a variety ofdata sources such as by providing communication capability betweenvarious communications channels (not separately depicted in FIG. 5).

According to some embodiments, the user device 502 in conjunction withthe live server cluster 510 f (e.g., via the Internet 504 a) may conduct(in whole or in part), facilitate, and/or otherwise be associated withexecution of one or more stored procedures, applications, processes,and/or methods (e.g., the method 900 in this disclosure, and/or one ormore portions and/or combinations thereof) as described in thisdisclosure.

Turning to FIG. 6, a block diagram of a system 600 according to someembodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the system 600 may compriseand/or define a “back-end” architecture of a gaming platform such as aplatform via which social, multiplayer, and/or online games may beplayed (e.g., one or more bingo games as described in this disclosure).The system 600 may be utilized in conjunction with the systems 400, 500of FIG. 4 and/or FIG. 5 in this disclosure, for example, and/or may besimilar in configuration and/or functionality to the backend environment504 h of the system 500 of FIG. 5. In some embodiments, the system 600may comprise a user device 602, a plurality of networks (and/orenvironments and/or layers) 604 a-i (e.g., the Internet 604 a, an ISP604 b, an External Firewall-Router (EXTFW-RTR) Virtual LAN (VLAN) 604 c,an Internet VLAN 604 d, an Internal-External (INT-EXT) VLAN 604 e, a webVLAN 604 f, a database VLAN 604 g, an application VLAN 604 h, and/or anadministrator VLAN 604 i), an external router cluster 606, a pluralityof firewall clusters 608 a-b (e.g., an external firewall cluster 608 aand/or an internal firewall cluster 608 b), a plurality of servers 610a-j (e.g., a server cluster 610 a, a first spare server pool 610 b, asecond spare server pool 610 c, database servers 610 d, “hydra” servers610 e, game controllers 610 f, ruby servers 610 g, admin servers 610 h,monitoring servers 610 i, and/or logging servers 610 j), a plurality ofswitches 622 a-d (e.g., content switches 622 a, Storage Area Network(SAN) switches 622 b, connectivity switches 622 c, and/or networkswitches 622 d), a TC device 624, a SAN storage device 640, and/or oneor more PDU devices 652.

According to some embodiments, any or all of the components 602, 604a-i, 606, 608 a-b, 610 a-j, 622 a-d, 624, 640, 652 of the system 600 maybe similar in configuration and/or functionality to any similarly namedand/or numbered components described in this disclosure. Fewer or morecomponents 602, 604 a-i, 606, 608 a-b, 610 a-j, 622 a-d, 624, 640, 652(and/or portions thereof) and/or various configurations of thecomponents 602, 604 a-i, 606, 608 a-b, 610 a-j, 622 a-d, 624, 640, 652may be included in the system 600 without deviating from the scope ofembodiments described in this disclosure. While multiple instances ofsome components 604 a-i, 608 a-b, 610 a-j, 622 a-d are depicted andwhile single instances of other components 602, 606, 624, 640, 652 aredepicted, for example, any component 602, 604 a-i, 606, 608 a-b, 610a-j, 622 a-d, 624, 640, 652 depicted in the system 600 may comprise asingle device, a combination of devices and/or components 602, 604 a-i,606, 608 a-b, 610 a-j, 622 a-d, 624, 640, 652, and/or a plurality ofdevices, as is or becomes desirable and/or practicable. Similarly, insome embodiments, one or more of the various components 602, 604 a-i,606, 608 a-b, 610 a-j, 622 a-d, 624, 640, 652 may not be needed and/ordesired in the system 600.

In some embodiments, the user device 602 may be utilized to accessand/or interface with one or more of the servers 610 a-j via theInternet 604 a. In some embodiments, the Internet 602 a may be linked tothe ISP 604 b via multiple (e.g., redundant) connectivity paths 604 b-1,604 b-2 (e.g., for load balancing, security, and/or failure recovery).According to some embodiments, the ISP 604 b may be in communicationwith (and/or comprise) the external router cluster 606. The externalrouter cluster 606 may route certain requests, calls, and/ortransmissions (and/or users—e.g., based on credentials and/or otherinformation) through the EXTFW-RTR VLAN 604 c and/or through theexternal firewall cluster 608 a, for example, and/or may route certainrequests, calls, and/or transmissions (and/or users—e.g., based oncredentials and/or other information) through the Internet VLAN 604 dand/or through the internal firewall cluster 608 b.

In the case that a user (not shown) of the user device 602 comprises anonline game player, consumer, and/or other member of the public, forexample, the external router cluster 606 may direct communicationsthrough the EXTFW-RTR VLAN 604 c and/or through the external firewallcluster 608 a. In the case that the user of the user device 602comprises a programmer, tester, employee, and/or other agent of anentity that operates the system 600, for example, the external routercluster 606 may direct communications through the Internet VLAN 604 dand/or through the internal firewall cluster 608 b. In some embodiments,access via either or both of the external firewall cluster 608 a and/orthe internal firewall cluster 608 b may permit the user device 602 tocommunicate via the INT-EXT VLAN 604 e. The INT-EXT VLAN 604 e may, forexample, provide access to the content switches 622 a which may, in someembodiments, serve content from any or all of the servers 610 a-j to theuser device 602, as is or becomes appropriate or desired. In someembodiments, the content switches 622 a may communicate with the firstspare server pool 610 b via the web LAN 604 f.

According to some embodiments, private and/or other specialized accessto the system 600 via the internal firewall cluster 608 b may permit theuser device 602 to communicate via one or more of the database VLAN 604g, the application VLAN 604 h, and/or the admin VLAN 604 i. The databaseVLAN 604 g may be utilized, for example, to access and/or communicatewith the database servers 610 d. In some embodiments, the applicationVLAN 604 h may be utilized to access and/or communicate with any or allof the hydra servers 610 e, the game controllers 610 f, and/or the rubyservers 610 g.

The admin VLAN 604 i may allow, promote, conduct, facilitate, and/ormanage a wide variety of communications within the system 600. The adminVLAN 604 i may, for example, communicatively connect and/or couple anyor all of the firewalls 608 a-b, the servers 610 a-j, the switches 622a-d, the TC device 624, the SAN storage 640, and/or the PDU devices 652.The user device 602 may be utilized, in conjunction with the adminservers 610 h and/or via the admin VLAN 604 i for example, to define,edit, adjust, manage, and/or otherwise access settings (and/or data) ofthe firewalls 608 a-b, any or all of the switches 622 a-d, the TC device624, and/or the PDU devices 652. In some embodiments, the user device602 (and/or the admin servers 610 h) may be utilized to manage and/oraccess content, rules, settings, and/or performance characteristics orpreferences for any or all of the servers 610 a-j.

In some embodiments, the server cluster 610 a may comprise one or moreservers and/or other electronic controller devices (e.g., blade servers)configured to provide online gaming data (e.g., interfaces, outcomes,and/or results) to the user device 602. According to some embodiments,the first spare server pool 610 b and/or the second spare server pool610 c may comprise one or more server and/or other electronic controllerdevices configured to supplement and/or replace the server cluster 610 aas needed and/or desired (e.g., to manage load and/or error recoverysituations). In some embodiments, the database servers 610 c may provideand/or manage access to stored data such as data stored in and/or by theSAN storage device 640. In some embodiments, the hydra servers 610 eand/or the game controllers 610 f may provide online game informationsuch as interfaces, results, graphics, sounds, and/or other media to theuser device 602 (e.g., via the application VLAN 604 h). In someembodiments, the ruby servers 610 g may comprise one or more processingdevices configured to provide access to one or more programminglanguages (e.g., “Ruby”) and/or Application Programming Interface (API)mechanisms via which the servers 610 a-j and/or other portions of thesystem 600 may be configured to operate (e.g., in accordance withspecially and/or pre-programmed instructions written in the programminglanguage and/or developed by the API provided by the ruby servers 610g). According to some embodiments, the admin servers 610 h, themonitoring servers 610 i, and/or the logging servers 610 j may beutilized and/or configured to provide administrative, parameter and/ormetric monitoring and/or reporting, and/or data logging and/or auditservices, respectively.

According to some embodiments, the user device 602 in conjunction withone or more of the servers 610 a-j (e.g., via the Internet 604 a) mayconduct (in whole or in part), facilitate, and/or otherwise beassociated with execution of one or more stored procedures,applications, processes, and/or methods (e.g., the method 900 in thisdisclosure, and/or one or more portions and/or combinations thereof) asdescribed in this disclosure.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a block diagram of a system 700 according to someembodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the system 700 may comprise ageneral gaming platform such as a gaming platform via which one or moremultiplayer and/or online games may be played (e.g., one or more onlinegames). In some embodiments, the system 700 may comprise a plurality ofplayer devices 702 a-n in communication with and/or via a network 704.In some embodiments, a game server 710 may be in communication with thenetwork 704 and/or one or more of the player devices 702 a-n. In someembodiments, the game server 710 (and/or the player devices 702 a-n) maybe in communication with a database 740.

In contrast to the specialized, respective bingo game systems of FIG. 1and FIG. 2, and to the specialized game systems of FIG. 3, FIG. 4, andFIG. 5, the system 700 may be embodied using one or more generalcomputing devices executing software (e.g., bingo game software).

The player devices 702 a-n, in some embodiments, may comprise any typeor configuration of electronic, mobile electronic, and or other networkand/or communication devices (or combinations thereof) that are orbecome known or practicable. A first player device 702 a may, forexample, comprise one or more PC devices, computer workstations (e.g.,game consoles and/or gaming computers), tablet computers, such as aniPad® manufactured by Apple®, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., and/or cellularand/or wireless telephones such as an iPhone® (also manufactured byApple®, Inc.) or an Optimus™ S smart phone manufactured by LG®Electronics, Inc. of San Diego, Calif., and running the Android®operating system from Google®, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. In someembodiments, one or more of the player devices 702 a-n may bespecifically utilized and/or configured (e.g., via specially-programmedand/or stored instructions such as may define or comprise a softwareapplication) to communicate with the game server 710 (e.g., via thenetwork 704). In some embodiments, a game server 710 may be incommunication with a variety of different types of player devices 702a-n.

The network 704 may, according to some embodiments, comprise a LAN, WAN,cellular telephone network, Bluetooth® network, NFC network, and/or RFnetwork with communication links between the player devices 702 a-n, thegame server 710, and/or the database 740. In some embodiments, thenetwork 704 may comprise direct communications links between any or allof the components 702 a-n, 710, and 740 of the system 700. The gameserver 710 may, for example, be directly interfaced or connected to thedatabase 740 via one or more wires, cables, wireless links, and/or othernetwork components, such network components (e.g., communication links)comprising portions of the network 704. In some embodiments, the network704 may comprise one or many other links or network components otherthan those depicted in FIG. 7. A second player device 702 b may, forexample, be connected to the game server 710 via various cell towers,routers, repeaters, ports, switches, and/or other network componentsthat comprise the Internet and/or a cellular telephone (and/or PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN)) network, and which comprise portionsof the network 704.

While the network 704 is depicted in FIG. 7 as a single object, thenetwork 704 may comprise any number, type, and/or configuration ofnetworks that is or becomes known or practicable. According to someembodiments, the network 704 may comprise a conglomeration of differentsub-networks and/or network components interconnected, directly orindirectly, by the components 702 a-n, 710, and 740 of the system 700.The network 704 may comprise one or more cellular telephone networkswith communication links between the player devices 702 a-n and the gameserver 710, for example, and/or may comprise the Internet, withcommunication links between the player devices 702 a-n and the database740, for example.

According to some embodiments, the game server 710 may comprise a device(and/or system) owned and/or operated by or on behalf of or for thebenefit of a gaming entity (not explicitly shown). The gaming entity mayutilize player and/or game information or instructions (e.g., stored bythe database 740), in some embodiments, to host, manage, analyze,design, define, price, conduct, and/or otherwise provide (or cause to beprovided) one or more games such as online multiplayer games (e.g., oneor more bingo games as described in this disclosure). In someembodiments, the gaming entity (and/or a third-party; not explicitlyshown) may provide an interface (not shown in FIG. 7) to and/or via theplayer devices 702 a-n. The interface may be configured, according tosome embodiments, to allow and/or facilitate electronic game play by oneor more players. In some embodiments, the system 700 (and/or interfaceprovided by the game server 710) may present game data (e.g., from thedatabase 740) in such a manner that allows players to participate in oneor more online games (singularly, in/with groups, and/or otherwise).According to some embodiments, the game server 710 may cause and/orfacilitate various functionality and/or features of one or more bingogames, each as described in this disclosure.

In some embodiments, the database 740 may comprise any type,configuration, and/or quantity of data storage devices that are orbecome known or practicable. The database 740 may, for example, comprisean array of optical and/or solid-state hard drives configured to storeplayer and/or game data, and/or various operating instructions, drivers,etc. While the database 740 is depicted as a stand-alone component ofthe system 700 in FIG. 7, the database 740 may comprise multiplecomponents. In some embodiments, a multi-component database 740 may bedistributed across various devices and/or may comprise remotelydispersed components. Any or all of the player devices 702 a-n maycomprise the database 740 or a portion thereof, for example, and/or thegame server 710 may comprise the database 740 or a portion thereof.

Turning to FIG. 8, a block diagram of an apparatus 800 according to someembodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the apparatus 800 may besimilar in configuration and/or functionality to any of the playerand/or user devices 130, 140, 210, 302 a-n, 402 a-b, 502, 602, 702 a-nand/or the servers and/or controller devices 102, 106, 108, 114, 118,310 a-n, 410 a-g, 510 e-f, 610 a-j, 710 of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG.4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and/or FIG. 7 in this disclosure, and/or mayotherwise comprise a portion of the systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500,600, 700 of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and/or FIG.7 in this disclosure. The apparatus 800 may, for example, execute,process, facilitate, and/or otherwise be associated with the method 900(FIG. 9) described in this disclosure. In some embodiments, theapparatus 800 may comprise a processing device 812, an input device 814,an output device 816, a communication device 818, a memory device 840,and/or a cooling device 850. According to some embodiments, any or allof the components 812, 814, 816, 818, 840, 850 of the apparatus 800 maybe similar in configuration and/or functionality to any similarly namedand/or numbered components described in this disclosure. Fewer or morecomponents 812, 814, 816, 818, 840, 850 and/or various configurations ofthe components 812, 814, 816, 818, 840, 850 may be included in theapparatus 800 without deviating from the scope of embodiments describedin this disclosure.

According to some embodiments, the processing device 812 may be orinclude any type, quantity, and/or configuration of electronic and/orcomputerized processor that is or becomes known. The processing device812 may comprise, for example, an Intel® IXP 2800 network processor oran Intel® XEON™ processor coupled with an Intel® E7501 chipset. In someembodiments, the processing device 812 may comprise multipleinter-connected processors, microprocessors, and/or micro-engines.According to some embodiments, the processing device 812 (and/or theapparatus 800 and/or portions thereof) may be supplied power via a powersupply (not shown) such as a battery, an Alternating Current (AC)source, a Direct Current (DC) source, an AC/DC adapter, solar cells,and/or an inertial generator. In the case that the apparatus 800comprises a server such as a blade server, necessary power may besupplied via a standard AC outlet, power strip, surge protector, a PDU,and/or Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) device.

In some embodiments, the input device 814 and/or the output device 816are communicatively coupled to the processing device 812 (e.g., viawired and/or wireless connections and/or pathways) and they maygenerally comprise any types or configurations of input and outputcomponents and/or devices that are or become known, respectively. Theinput device 814 may comprise, for example, a keyboard that allows anoperator of the apparatus 800 to interface with the apparatus 800 (e.g.,by a player, such as to participate in an online game session asdescribed in this disclosure). In some embodiments, the input device 814may comprise a sensor configured to provide information such as playerrelationships to the apparatus 800 and/or the processing device 812. Theoutput device 816 may, according to some embodiments, comprise a displayscreen and/or other practicable output component and/or device. Theoutput device 816 may, for example, provide a game interface (notexplicitly shown in FIG. 8) to a player (e.g., via a website). Accordingto some embodiments, the input device 814 and/or the output device 816may comprise and/or be embodied in a single device such as atouch-screen monitor.

In some embodiments, the communication device 818 may comprise any typeor configuration of communication device that is or becomes known orpracticable. The communication device 818 may, for example, comprise anetwork interface card (NIC), a telephonic device, a cellular networkdevice, a router, a hub, a modem, and/or a communications port or cable.In some embodiments, the communication device 818 may be coupled toprovide data to a player device (not shown in FIG. 8), such as in thecase that the apparatus 800 is utilized to provide a game interface to aplayer as described in this disclosure. The communication device 818may, for example, comprise a cellular telephone network transmissiondevice that sends signals indicative of game interface components tocustomer and/or subscriber handheld, mobile, and/or telephone device.According to some embodiments, the communication device 818 may also oralternatively be coupled to the processing device 812. In someembodiments, the communication device 818 may comprise an IR, RF,Bluetooth™, and/or Wi-Fi® network device coupled to facilitatecommunications between the processing device 812 and another device(such as a player device and/or a third-party device).

The memory device 840 may comprise any appropriate information storagedevice that is or becomes known or available, including, but not limitedto, units and/or combinations of magnetic storage devices (e.g., a harddisk drive), optical storage devices, and/or semiconductor memorydevices such as RAM devices, Read Only Memory (ROM) devices, Single DataRate Random Access Memory (SDR-RAM), Double Data Rate Random AccessMemory (DDR-RAM), and/or Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM). Thememory device 840 may, according to some embodiments, store one or moreof bingo game instructions 842-1 and/or bingo game interfaceinstructions 842-2. In some embodiments, the bingo game instructions842-1 and/or the bingo game interface instructions 842-2 may be utilizedby the processing device 812 to provide output information via theoutput device 816 and/or the communication device 818.

According to some embodiments, the bingo game instructions 842-1 may beoperable to cause the processing device 812 to process player data 844-1and/or game data 844-2. Player data 844-1 and/or game data 844-2received via the input device 814 and/or the communication device 818may, for example, be analyzed, sorted, filtered, decoded, decompressed,ranked, scored, plotted, and/or otherwise processed by the processingdevice 812 in accordance with the game instructions 842-1.

In some embodiments, the bingo game interface instructions 842-2 may beoperable to cause the processing device 812 to process player data 844-1and/or game data 844-2. Player data 844-1 and/or game data 844-2received via the input device 814 and/or the communication device 818may, for example, be analyzed, sorted, filtered, decoded, decompressed,ranked, scored, plotted, and/or otherwise processed by the processingdevice 812 in accordance with the interface instructions 842-2.

In some embodiments, player data 844-1 and/or game data 844-2 may beutilized by the processing device 812 in accordance with the bingo gameinterface instructions 842-2 to provide one or more game interfaces inaccordance with embodiments described in this disclosure (e.g.,displaying or otherwise transmitting information about one or morecalled bingo numbers or other types of bingo game symbols and/or winningcombinations of bingo symbols).

Any or all of the exemplary instructions and data types described inthis disclosure and other practicable types of data may be stored in anynumber, type, and/or configuration of memory devices that is or becomesknown. The memory device 840 may, for example, comprise one or more datatables or files, databases, table spaces, registers, and/or otherstorage structures. In some embodiments, multiple databases and/orstorage structures (and/or multiple memory devices 840) may be utilizedto store information associated with the apparatus 800. According tosome embodiments, the memory device 840 may be incorporated into and/orotherwise coupled to the apparatus 800 (e.g., as shown) or may simply beaccessible to the apparatus 800 (e.g., externally located and/orsituated).

In some embodiments, the apparatus 800 may comprise a cooling device850. According to some embodiments, the cooling device 850 may becoupled (physically, thermally, and/or electrically) to the processingdevice 812 and/or to the memory device 840. The cooling device 850 may,for example, comprise a fan, heat sink, heat pipe, radiator, cold plate,and/or other cooling component or device or combinations thereof,configured to remove heat from portions or components of the apparatus800.

One or more various types of data storage devices may be utilized tostore instructions and/or data for use in accordance with one or moreembodiments. In some embodiments, instructions stored on the datastorage devices may, when executed by a processing device, cause theimplementation of and/or facilitate one or more of various methods,and/or portions or combinations thereof, as described in thisdisclosure.

According to some embodiments, a data storage device may comprise one ormore various types of internal and/or external hard drives. The datastorage device may, for example, comprise a data storage medium that isread, interrogated, and/or otherwise communicatively coupled to and/orvia a disk reading device. In some embodiments, the first data storagedevice and/or the data storage medium may be configured to storeinformation utilizing one or more magnetic, inductive, and/or opticalmeans (e.g., magnetic, inductive, and/or optical-encoding). A datastorage medium, for example, may comprise one or more of a polymerlayer, a magnetic data storage layer, a non-magnetic layer, a magneticbase layer, a contact layer, and/or a substrate layer. According to someembodiments, a magnetic read head may be coupled and/or disposed to readdata from the magnetic data storage layer.

In some embodiments, a data storage medium may comprise a plurality ofdata points disposed with the data storage medium. The data points may,in some embodiments, be read and/or otherwise interfaced with via alaser-enabled read head disposed and/or coupled to direct a laser beamthrough the data storage medium.

In some embodiments, a data storage device may comprise a CD, CD-ROM,DVD, Blu-Ray™ Disc, and/or other type of optically-encoded disk and/orother storage medium that is or becomes known or practicable. In someembodiments, a data storage device may comprise a USB keyfob, dongle,and/or other type of flash memory data storage device that is or becomesknow or practicable. In some embodiments, a data storage device maycomprise RAM of any type, quantity, and/or configuration that is orbecomes practicable and/or desirable. In some embodiments, a datastorage device may comprise an off-chip cache such as a Level 2 (L2)cache memory device. According to some embodiments, a data storagedevice may comprise an on-chip memory device such as a Level 1 (L1)cache memory device.

Any one or more of various types of data storage devices may generallystore program instructions, code, and/or modules that, when executed bya processing device, cause a particular machine to function inaccordance with one or more embodiments described in this disclosure.Some types of data storage devices may be representative of a classand/or subset of computer-readable media that are defined in thisdisclosure as “computer-readable memory” (e.g., non-transitory memorydevices as opposed to transmission devices or media).

The terms “computer-readable medium” and “computer-readable memory”refer to any medium that participates in providing data (e.g.,instructions) that may be read by a computer and/or a processor. Such amedium may take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatilemedia, volatile media, and other specific types of transmission media.Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks andother persistent memory. Volatile media include DRAM, which typicallyconstitutes the main memory. Other types of transmission media includecoaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics, including the wires thatcomprise a system bus coupled to the processor.

Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppydisk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magneticmedium, a CD-ROM, Digital Video Disc (DVD), any other optical medium,punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns ofholes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, a USB memory stick, adongle, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any othermedium from which a computer can read. The terms “computer-readablemedium” and/or “tangible media” specifically exclude signals, waves, andwave forms or other intangible or transitory media that may neverthelessbe readable by a computer.

Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in carryingsequences of instructions to a processor. For example, sequences ofinstruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may becarried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may beformatted according to numerous formats, standards, or protocols. For amore exhaustive list of protocols, the term “network” is defined aboveand includes many exemplary protocols that are also applicable in thisdisclosure.

In some embodiments, one or more specialized machines such as acomputerized processing device, a server, a remote terminal, and/or acustomer device may implement one or more of the various practicesdescribed in this disclosure. A computer system of a gaming entity may,for example, comprise various specialized computers that interact toprovide for online games as described in this disclosure.

B. Methods

According to some embodiments, processes described in this disclosuremay be performed and/or implemented by and/or otherwise associated withone or more specialized and computerized processing devices (e.g., thedevices 130, 140, 302 a-n, 402 a-b, 502, 602 and/or the servers and/orcontroller devices 102, 108, 110, 114, 118, 124, 310 a-n, 410 a-g, 510e-f, 610 a-j of FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and/or FIG. 6 in thisdisclosure), specialized computers, computer terminals, computerservers, computer systems and/or networks, and/or any combinationsthereof (e.g., by one or more online game providers and/or online gamingplayer processing devices). In some embodiments, methods may be embodiedin, facilitated by, and/or otherwise associated with various specializedinput mechanisms and/or interfaces described in this disclosure.According to some other embodiments, some processes described in thisdisclosure may be performed and/or implemented by and/or otherwiseassociated with one or more general computing devices (e.g., asdescribed with respect to FIG. 7 in this disclosure), servers, systems,and/or networks.

Any processes described in this disclosure do not necessarily imply afixed order to any depicted actions, steps, and/or procedures, andembodiments may generally be performed in any order that is practicableunless otherwise and specifically noted. Any of the processes and/ormethods described in this disclosure may be performed and/or facilitatedby hardware, software (including microcode), firmware, or anycombination thereof. For example, a storage medium (e.g., a hard disk,Universal Serial Bus (USB) mass storage device, and/or Digital VideoDisk (DVD)) may store thereon instructions that when executed by amachine (such as a computerized processing device) result in performanceaccording to any one or more of the embodiments described in thisdisclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a flow diagram of a method 900 according tosome embodiments is shown. The method 900 may be performed, for example,by a bingo game server (e.g., a bingo game server of bingo game servercluster 110).

According to some embodiments, the method 900 may comprise determining aset of game symbols of a player for play of a bingo game, at 902. Asdiscussed in this disclosure, in accordance with some embodiments abingo game server may determine at least one bingo ticket, card, orother bingo game indicia for a player (e.g., for potentially matchingwith called bingo symbols). In some embodiments, determining the set ofgame symbols for play of a bingo game may comprise determining a full,available set of game symbols from which to draw for a bingo game (e.g.,the set of number 1-75 for a 75-ball bingo game). In one embodiment abingo game server may transmit an indication of the set of game symbolsto a player via a bingo game interface (e.g., based on game datatransmitted to a mobile client device via a bingo listener of a bingogame system).

According to some embodiments, the method 900 may comprise determining asubpool of game symbols from which at least one bingo call will be madefor the bingo game, at 904. In one example, a bingo game server maydetermine at least two game symbols, from a larger set of game symbolsthat could be called, and designate the subset as the subpool for atleast one bingo call. For instance, the bingo game server may select asubpool of five bingo game symbols (e.g., 8, 14, 26, 64, 74), of alarger available set of 1-75, from which at least one bingo call will bemade. In one embodiment, the subpool may be represented via a bingo gameinterface. Accordingly, the visual representation of the subpool mayincrease the anticipation and excitement for a player because the playerknows that the next called bingo game symbol(s) will come from thesubset (though the bingo game system does not indicate to the playerwhich symbol of the subpool will be called next).

According to some embodiments, the method 900 may comprise determining anumber of game symbols of the subpool that will be called, at 906. Inone or more embodiments, the bingo game server may determine (e.g.,based on a weighted random array) how many of the game symbols in theidentified subpool will be called (e.g., called simultaneously). Inanother embodiment, the number of game symbols to be called may dependon information about a player and/or the players gaming history ortransactions (e.g., a number of bingo tickets purchased in a given timeperiod). For example, the bingo game server may determine to call threeout of five game symbols of a subpool.

According to some embodiments, the method 900 may comprise determiningan indication of one or more game symbols called for the bingo game, theone or more game symbols being in the subpool of game symbols, at 908.In some embodiments, determining an indication may comprise generating avisual highlighting, emphasis, daub, or other type of visual indicia toindicate which, of a displayed plurality of game symbols of the subpool,has been called. For example, the called game symbols may contrastvisually with uncalled symbols of the subpool (e.g., by visuallyhighlighting, coloring, or bolding the called symbols).

According to some embodiments, the method 900 may comprise determiningan indication of any game symbols of the player that match the one ormore game symbols called, at 910. In one example, game symbols of theplayer may be represented as a set via a bingo game interface, and whena match is identified (e.g., by a player or automatically by a bingogame server), the matching game symbol(s) may be daubed, removed,highlighted, or otherwise visually distinguished from any unmatched gamesymbols of the player. In one embodiment, a bingo game comprises anarchery theme and matched game symbols are represented as balloons ortargets that “pop” or disappear when the matching game symbol is called(e.g., as represented by an animated arrow striking the playerssymbol(s)).

According to one example of a bingo game including one or more featuresdiscussed in this disclosure, as depicted in the example interface 1000of FIG. 10, a game area may include a number of called balls indication1002 that indicates to the player how many numbers will be called (e.g.,at the same time) for a given call. As depicted in the example interface1000, the number of called balls indication 1102 indicates that fiveballs have been or are to be called, as indicated by the display of thefive arrows. The example subpool area 1104 indicates a subpool ofnumbers (8, 15, 5, 30, 12) from which a call has been and/or will bemade. The example ticket display area 1106 indicates a representation ofa player's tickets or other collections of bingo symbols that a playeris currently playing (e.g., to match against the called numbers in orderto satisfy a win condition). According to the example, a player has fouractive tickets or sets of bingo numbers, each ticket including fiveplayer bingo numbers, and each ticket being associated with a respectiveprize (e.g., should all of the numbers be matched for that ticket duringgame play). Various aspects of the different game areas discussed abovewith respect to example interface 1000 are discussed further below withrespect to the example game play of FIGS. 11A-11I.

FIGS. 11A-11I depict an example of play of a bingo game including one ormore features discussed in this disclosure. According to the examplegame play, the sequence of figures illustrates three sequential sets ofcalls being made during a bingo game using the example tickets alsodepicted in FIG. 10. Specifically, a first ticket includes a first setof bingo numbers (52, 11, 40, 2, and 24); a second ticket includes asecond set of bingo numbers (3, 15, 8, 21, and 7); a third ticketincludes a third set of bingo numbers (5, 30, 33, 4, and 19); and afourth ticket includes a fourth set of bingo numbers (16, 29, 56, 7, and1). Each ticket is associated with a respective prize. The game playfigures also demonstrate examples of how called numbers may be revealedto a player and/or how any matches of the called numbers to one or moreof the player's tickets may be indicated to the player. In general, asdepicted in the game play figures, players first will see how manynumbers will be called (e.g., as represented by a number of arrowsrevealed), and then they will be informed of which of the numbers (fromthe subpool) are called. In accordance with some embodiments, the periodof time in between seeing how many of the numbers will be revealed andrevealing the called numbers may be very short (e.g., a second or two)but sufficient to create additional player anticipation. The bingo gamemay also, in accordance with some embodiments, reveal the numbersselected for the subpool from which the call will be made (e.g., beforeor after the number of numbers to be called is revealed).

Referring now to FIG. 11A, the example interface 1100 depicts how asubpool of numbers (8, 15, 5, 30, 12) has been determined and displayedto the player. The number or numbers called next are represented in thedisplayed subpool. FIG. 11A also includes an indication, depicted in theexample as two arrows, of the number of numbers that will be called (inthis case, two numbers will be called). As depicted in FIG. 11A, at thisstage of the bingo game none of the player's numbers (represented on thefour sets of balloons) have been matched or marked. The number ofnumbers to call at one time may be determined at random and/or inaccordance with a schedule.

Referring now to FIG. 11B, the example interface has been modified toreveal that the numbers 8 and 5 have been called (e.g., by highlightingor otherwise distinguishing visually the called numbers from othernumbers in the subpool). Various ways of determining a bingo call areknown to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the order inwhich numbers are called and/or determining which numbers are to becalled simultaneously may be determined prior to initiation of a bingogame session, prior to purchase of tickets by a player, after purchaseof tickets by a player, and/or in real time for each call. Similarly,the number of numbers that may be revealed for each call may bedetermined at any time prior to and/or during play of the bingo game. Insome embodiments, the entire sequence of called numbers and thearrangement of how the numbers are revealed (e.g., which numbers arerevealed simultaneously) may be determined (e.g., by a processor of agame server executing software instructions for a bingo game) in advanceof the start of play of a bingo game.

FIG. 11B also depicts an example of how any matches between the callednumbers and the numbers on the player's tickets may be marked orotherwise indicated. In this example, the balloons including the numbers8 and 15 are highlighted (e.g., with a green background) where theyappear on the tickets. Further, in some embodiments, the interface maydisplay a representation of the matched numbers “popping” or otherwisebeing removed from play.

FIG. 11C depicts an example in which the matched numbers 8 and 15 havebeen “popped” by the two arrows launched from the arrow area, toindicate that the numbers have been marked for those tickets. FIG. 11Calso provides an example of where a next subpool of numbers (17, 15, 10,30, 12) has been determined for the next number call. Determining asubsequent subpool of numbers may comprise removing all called numbersbut retaining all numbers from a previous subpool that were not called(as depicted in FIG. 11C, retaining fewer than all of the uncallednumbers from the previous subpool, and/or retaining none of the uncallednumbers from the previous subpool. According to some embodiments,determining a subpool may comprise determining what numbers are to becalled next, and selecting other numbers (e.g., at random and/or inaccordance with a schedule) to complete the subpool. For example, thenumbers 17 and 10 could have been selected at random to replace thecalled numbers 8 and 15 in the subpool of FIG. 11C, or 17 and 10 couldhave been preselected (e.g., based on the numbers in a players ticket)to complete the subpool displayed for the next call.

FIG. 11D depicts an example of an embodiment in which after the secondsubpool has been revealed in FIG. 11C, the number of numbers to becalled (three, in this case, as indicated by the arrows) is revealed(e.g., after a brief pause to build anticipation). FIG. 11E depictsanother example of revealing the next called numbers. In this case, thenumbers 17, 30, and 12 are called simultaneously, and the player matchesonly on the number 30 (as indicated by the highlighted balloon in theticket area). In accordance with some embodiments, the numbersrepresented in the subpool that were called and that match numbers onthe player's ticket(s) may be indicated with a first type of indication(e.g., green highlighting) and the numbers represented in the subpoolthat were called but that do not match any number on the player'sticket(s) may be indicated with a second type of indication (e.g., redhighlighting). For example, the number 30 may be highlighted in green inthe subpool area (match) and the numbers 17 and 12 may be highlighted inred (no match).

FIG. 11F depicts an example of the next stage of play, similar to thatdepicted in FIG. 11C, in which the matched balloon for 30 has beenremoved, and the next subpool of numbers (6, 15, 10, 28, 2) is revealed.

FIG. 11G depicts an example interface revealing that five numbers (everynumber in the example subpool) will be called next, as indicated by therepresentation of five arrows. FIG. 11H depicts a representation of allfive called numbers and indicates that two numbers have matched (numbers2 and 15) on the player's tickets. FIG. 11I depicts an example interfacehaving a subpool with all new numbers, and showing the balloons fornumbers 2 and 15 (matched on the previous call) have been removed.

According to some embodiments, after all of the numbers have been markedoff a ticket, the prize associated with that ticket is won by theplayer. In some instances the prizes may vary between the tickets, inothers a common prize will be used for all tickets and players. In avariation where a prize is associated with the ticket, there may be theoption to obscure the value of the prize until all the numbers on theticket are marked off (e.g., different prizes may be associated withdifferent tickets).

Referring now to FIG. 12, an example interface 1200 depicts how all of asubpool of numbers (3, 15, 10, 30, 21) has been determined and displayedto the player. The number or numbers called next are represented in thedisplayed subpool.

FIG. 12 also includes an indication, depicted in the example as threearrows, of the number of numbers called (in this case, three numbershave been called). The example interface 1200 also indicates that thenumbers 3, 15, and 21 have been called (e.g., as indicated by thehighlighting of those called numbers displayed in the subpool). Theexample interface 1200 also depicts an example of how the matchesbetween the called numbers 3, 15, and 21 and the corresponding numberson the upper rightmost player's ticket and on the lower leftmost tickethave been daubed. In this example, the balloons including the numbers 3,15, and 21 are highlighted (e.g., with a green background) where theyappear on the two tickets.

As also depicted in the example interface 1200, an example indication isprovided (“WIN!”) that the player has won a prize (e.g., a primaryprize) for matching all of the player numbers in the upper rightmostticket. The called numbers 3, 15, and 21 completed the matching of allof the numbers of that example ticket. In accordance with someembodiments, the player has also won a secondary prize (e.g., a cleansweep bonus prize) for matching all of the undaubed numbers of theticket (3, 15, and 21) using all of the called numbers from the subpool.

Referring now to FIG. 13, an example interface 1300 depicts an exampleimplementation of a lucky shot bonus feature. According to the examplegame play depicted, a subpool of numbers (3, 15, 10, 30, 21) has beendetermined and displayed to the player. The number or numbers callednext are represented in the displayed subpool.

FIG. 13 also includes an indication, depicted in the example as a singlearrow, of the number of numbers called from the subpool (in this case,only one number has been called). The example interface 1300 alsoindicates that the number 21 has been called (e.g., as indicated by thehighlighting of the 21 representation displayed in the subpool). Theexample interface 1300 also depicts an example of how the last remainingnumber (21) in the upper rightmost player's ticket has been daubed basedon that number being drawn from the subpool. In this example, theballoon including the number 21 is highlighted (e.g., with a greenbackground) where it appears on the that ticket. As also depicted in theexample interface 1300, an example indication is provided (“WIN!”) thatthe player has won a prize (e.g., a primary prize) for completing (bymatching the remaining number, 21) a winning bingo pattern in the upperrightmost ticket. In accordance with some embodiments, the player hasalso won a secondary prize (e.g., a lucky shot bonus prize) forcompleting the bingo ticket using the only called number (21) from thesubpool.

Social and/or wagering games of various types of such as online,offline, skill-based, games of chance, and games of mixed skill andchance are a continued source of entertainment to game players, and areoften a source of great revenue for gaming companies. Some of the mostpopular styles of games, and some of the most consistently lucrative forthe gaming industry, are bingo games. Accordingly, in addition to thevarious technical innovations (e.g., specialized bingo game platforms,systems, and servers) described in this disclosure, the inventors havefurther recognized that there is a desire to provide players withincreasingly newer, more interesting, engaging, or entertaining bingogames.

Rules of Interpretation

Numerous embodiments are described in this patent application, and arepresented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments arenot, and are not intended to be, limiting. The presently disclosedinvention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as isreadily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the artwill recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced withvarious modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical,software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features ofthe disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one ormore particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understoodthat such features are not limited to usage in the one or moreparticular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they aredescribed, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The present disclosure is neither a literal description of allembodiments of the invention nor a listing of features of the inventionthat must be present in all embodiments. It is contemplated, however,that while some embodiment are not limited by the examples provided inthis disclosure, some embodiments may be specifically bounded or limitedby provided examples, structures, method steps, and/or sequences.Embodiments having scopes limited by provided examples may alsospecifically exclude features not explicitly described or contemplated.

Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of thispatent application) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of thispatent application) is to be taken as limiting in any way the scope ofthe disclosed invention(s).

The term “product” means any machine, manufacture and/or composition ofmatter as contemplated by 35 U.S.C. §101, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “theembodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “someembodiments”, “one embodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but notall) disclosed embodiments”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does notimply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with anotherembodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referencedembodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise. Similarly, anyreference to an “alternate,” “alternative,” and/or “alternateembodiment” is intended to connote one or more possible variations—notmutual exclusivity. In other words, it is expressly contemplated that“alternatives” described in this disclosure may be utilized and/orimplemented together, unless they inherently are incapable of beingutilized together.

The terms “including,” “comprising” and variations thereof mean“including but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” mean “one or more,” unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The term “plurality” means “two or more,” unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The terms “herein” or “in this disclosure” mean “in the presentapplication, including the specification, its claims and figures, andanything which may be incorporated by reference, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.”

The phrase “at least one of,” when such phrase modifies a plurality ofthings (such as an enumerated list of things) means any combination ofone or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. Forexample, the phrase at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel means(i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car, (v) awidget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, a car anda wheel.

The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on,” unless expresslyspecified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describesboth “based only on” and “based at least on.” In some embodiments, afirst thing being “based on” a second thing refers specifically to thefirst thing taking into account the second thing in an explicit manner.In such embodiments, for example, a processing step based on the localweather, which itself is in some manner based on or affected by (forexample) human activity in the rainforests, is not “based on” such humanactivities because it is not those activities that being explicitlyanalyzed, included, taken into account, and/or processed.

The term “whereby” is used in this disclosure only to precede a clauseor other set of words that express only the intended result, objective,or consequence of something that is previously and explicitly recited.Thus, when the term “whereby” is used in a claim, the clause or otherwords that the term “whereby” modifies do not establish specific furtherlimitations of the claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope ofthe claim.

The term “wherein,” as utilized in this disclosure, does not evidenceintended use. The term “wherein” expressly refers to one or morefeatures inclusive in a particular embodiment and does not imply orinclude an optional or conditional limitation.

Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as wellas more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as “at least onewidget” covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where ina second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses adefinite article “the” to refer to the limitation (e.g., “the widget”),this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature,and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of thefeature (e.g., “the widget” can cover both one widget and more than onewidget).

When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) isused as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unlessexpressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature,such as to allow for distinguishing that particular referenced featurefrom another feature that is described by the same term or by a similarterm. For example, a “first widget” may be so named merely to allow fordistinguishing it in one or more claims from a “second widget,” so as toencompass embodiments in which (1) the “first widget” is or is the sameas the “second widget” and (2) the “first widget” is different than oris not identical to the “second widget.” Thus, the mere usage of theordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” does notindicate any other relationship between the two widgets, and likewisedoes not indicate any other characteristics of either or both widgets.For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second”before the term “widget” (1) does not indicate that either widget comesbefore or after any other in order or location; (2) does not indicatethat either widget occurs or acts before or after any other in time; (3)does not indicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, asin importance or quality; and (4) does not indicate that the tworeferenced widgets are not identical or the same widget. In addition,the mere usage of ordinal numbers does not define a numerical limit tothe features identified with the ordinal numbers. For example, the mereusage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term“widget” does not indicate that there must be no more than two widgets.

When a single device or article is described in this disclosure, morethan one device or article (whether or not they cooperate) mayalternatively be used in place of the single device or article that isdescribed. Accordingly, the functionality that is described as beingpossessed by a device may alternatively be possessed by more than onedevice or article (whether or not they cooperate).

Similarly, where more than one device or article is described in thisdisclosure (whether or not they cooperate), a single device or articlemay alternatively be used in place of the more than one device orarticle that is described. For example, a plurality of computer-baseddevices may be substituted with a single computer-based device.Accordingly, the various functionality that is described as beingpossessed by more than one device or article may alternatively bepossessed by a single device or article.

The functionality and/or the features of a single device that isdescribed may be alternatively embodied by one or more other deviceswhich are described but are not explicitly described as having suchfunctionality and/or features. Thus, other embodiments need not includethe described device itself, but rather can include the one or moreother devices which would, in those other embodiments, have suchfunctionality/features.

Devices that are in communication with each other need not be incontinuous communication with each other, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to eachother as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain fromexchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine incommunication with another machine via the Internet may not transmitdata to the other machine for weeks at a time. In addition, devices thatare in communication with each other may communicate directly orindirectly through one or more intermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components or features doesnot imply that all or even any of such components and/or features isrequired. On the contrary, a variety of optional components aredescribed to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of thepresent invention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, nocomponent and/or feature is essential or required.

Further, although process steps, algorithms or the like may be describedin a sequential order, such processes may be configured to work indifferent orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps thatmay be explicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirementthat the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processesdescribed in this disclosure may be performed in any order practical.Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite beingdescribed or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because onestep is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of aprocess by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that theillustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modificationsthereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its stepsare necessary to the invention, and does not imply that the illustratedprocess is preferred.

Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps,that does not indicate that all or even any of the steps are essentialor required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the describedinvention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of thedescribed steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step isessential or required.

Although a product may be described as including a plurality ofcomponents, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, thatdoes not indicate that all of the plurality are essential or required.Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s)include other products that omit some or all of the described plurality.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does notimply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items(which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of theitems are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, a laptop, aPDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list aremutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three itemsof that list are comprehensive of any category.

Headings of sections provided in this patent application and the titleof this patent application are for convenience only, and are not to betaken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

“Determining” something can be performed in a variety of manners andtherefore the term “determining” (and like terms) includes calculating,computing, deriving, looking up (e.g., in a table, database or datastructure), ascertaining and the like.

It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithmsdescribed in this disclosure may be implemented by, e.g., appropriatelyand/or specially-programmed general purpose computers and/or computingdevices. Typically a processor (e.g., one or more microprocessors) willreceive instructions from a memory or like device, and execute thoseinstructions, thereby performing one or more processes defined by thoseinstructions. Further, programs that implement such methods andalgorithms may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media (e.g.,computer readable media) in a number of manners. In some embodiments,hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used in place of, or incombination with, software instructions for implementation of theprocesses of various embodiments. Thus, embodiments are not limited toany specific combination of hardware and software

A “processor” generally means any one or more microprocessors, CPUdevices, computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors,or like devices, as further described in this disclosure. According tosome embodiments, a “processor” may primarily comprise and/or be limitedto a specific class of processors referred to in this disclosure as“processing devices.” “Processing devices” are a subset of processorslimited to physical devices such as CPU devices, Printed Circuit Board(PCB) devices, transistors, capacitors, logic gates, etc. “Processingdevices”, for example, explicitly exclude biological, software-only,and/or biological or software-centric physical devices. While processingdevices may include some degree of soft logic and/or programming, forexample, such devices must include a predominant degree of physicalstructure in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §101.

The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium thatparticipates in providing data (e.g., instructions or other information)that may be read by a computer, a processor, or a like device. Such amedium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatilemedia, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile mediainclude, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistentmemory. Volatile media include DRAM, which typically constitutes themain memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire, andfiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled tothe processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves,light waves, and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generatedduring RF and IR data communications. Common forms of computer-readablemedia include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any otheroptical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium withpatterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any othermemory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from whicha computer can read.

The term “computer-readable memory” may generally refer to a subsetand/or class of computer-readable medium that does not includetransmission media such as waveforms, carrier waves, electromagneticemissions, etc. Computer-readable memory may typically include physicalmedia upon which data (e.g., instructions or other information) arestored, such as optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory,DRAM, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punchcards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, aRAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip orcartridge, computer hard drives, backup tapes, Universal Serial Bus(USB) memory devices, and the like.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingdata, including sequences of instructions, to a processor. For example,sequences of instruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor,(ii) may be carried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii)may be formatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols,such as Bluetooth™, TDMA, CDMA, 3G.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structuresbesides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations ordescriptions of any sample databases presented in this disclosure areillustrative arrangements for stored representations of information. Anynumber of other arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by,e.g., tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, anyillustrated entries of the databases represent exemplary informationonly; one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the numberand content of the entries can be different from those described in thisdisclosure. Further, despite any depiction of the databases as tables,other formats (including relational databases, object-based modelsand/or distributed databases) could be used to store and manipulate thedata types described in this disclosure. Likewise, object methods orbehaviors of a database can be used to implement various processes, suchas those described in this disclosure. In addition, the databases may,in a known manner, be stored locally or remotely from a device thataccesses data in such a database.

The present invention can be configured to work in a network environmentincluding a computer that is in communication, via a communicationsnetwork, with one or more devices. The computer may communicate with thedevices directly or indirectly, via a wired or wireless medium such asthe Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, or via any appropriatecommunications means or combination of communications means. Each of thedevices may comprise computers, such as those based on the Intel®Pentium® or Centrino™ processor, that are adapted to communicate withthe computer. Any number and type of machines may be in communicationwith the computer.

The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, anenabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some ofthese embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the presentapplication, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuingapplications that claim the benefit of priority of the presentapplication. Applicants intend to file additional applications to pursuepatents for subject matter that has been disclosed and enabled but notclaimed in the present application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for providing bingo game play,comprising a bingo game server in communication with a player interface,a memory device, and a cloud-based cache; a bingo controller incommunication with the bingo game server and with the memory device; agame webserver in communication with the bingo game server and thecloud-based cache; a bingo broadcaster in communication with the bingogame sever and a bingo listener; a bingo connection proxy incommunication with the bingo listener and with the player interface; andthe memory device storing bingo game instructions and player interfaceinstructions which, when executed by the bingo game server, direct thebingo game server to perform a method comprising: determining a set ofgame symbols of a player for play of a bingo game; determining a subpoolof game symbols from which at least one bingo call will be made for thebingo game; determining a number of game symbols of the subpool thatwill be called; determining an indication of one or more game symbolscalled for the bingo game from the subpool of game symbols; determiningthat the player has matched a winning bingo pattern based on the one ormore game symbols called from the subpool; determining that the playerhas won a secondary prize based on (i) matching the winning bingopattern and (ii) the number of game symbols called.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the cloud-based cache comprises a high-volume datamanagement cache.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising: ascheduler server in communication with the bingo game server and withthe bingo broadcaster.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the bingolistener is in communication with the bingo connection proxy via amessage broker, and wherein the bingo connection proxy is incommunication with a mobile client device.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein determining that the player has won a secondary prize based on(i) matching the winning bingo pattern and (ii) the number of gamesymbols called comprises: determining whether the number of game symbolscalled matches a predetermined number of called game symbols.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein determining that the player has won asecondary prize based on (i) matching the winning bingo pattern and (ii)the number of game symbols called comprises: determining that only asingle game symbol was called.
 7. The system of claim 1, whereindetermining the number of game symbols that will be called from thesubpool comprises determining that at least two game symbols from thesubpool will be called simultaneously.
 8. The system of claim 1, thememory device further storing bingo game instructions and playerinterface instructions which, when executed by the bingo game server,perform: displaying an indication of a primary prize won in the bingogame based on the winning bingo pattern.
 9. The system of claim 1, thememory device further storing bingo game instructions and playerinterface instructions which, when executed by the bingo game server,perform: displaying an indication of the secondary prize won in thebingo game based on (i) matching the winning bingo pattern and (ii) thenumber of game symbols called.
 10. The system of claim 1, the memorydevice further storing bingo game instructions and player interfaceinstructions which, when executed by the bingo game server, perform:displaying an indication of the number of game symbols of the subpoolthat will be called.
 11. A method, comprising: determining, by a bingogame server, a set of game symbols of a player for play of a bingo game;determining, by the bingo game server, a subpool of game symbols fromwhich at least one bingo call will be made for the bingo game;determining, by the bingo game server, a number of game symbols of thesubpool that will be called; determining, by the bingo game server, anindication of one or more game symbols called for the bingo game fromthe subpool of game symbols; determining, by the bingo game server, thatthe player has matched a winning bingo pattern based on the one or moregame symbols called from the subpool; determining, by the bingo gameserver, that the player has won a secondary prize based on (i) matchingthe winning bingo pattern and (ii) the number of game symbols called.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the bingo game server is incommunication with (i) a bingo game interface, (ii) a memory device,(iii) a cloud-based cache, (iv) a bingo controller; (v) a gamewebserver, (vi) a bingo broadcaster in communication with a bingolistener, and (vii) a bingo connection proxy in communication with thebingo listener and with the bingo game interface.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the bingo game server further is in communication withthe bingo broadcaster via a scheduler server.
 14. The method of claim12, wherein the cloud-based cache comprises a high-volume datamanagement cache.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the bingo listeneris in communication with the bingo connection proxy via a messagebroker, and wherein the bingo connection proxy is in communication witha mobile client device.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein determiningthat the player has won a secondary prize based on (i) matching thewinning bingo pattern and (ii) the number of game symbols calledcomprises: determining whether the number of game symbols called matchesa predetermined number of called game symbols.
 17. The method of claim11, wherein determining that the player has won a secondary prize basedon (i) matching the winning bingo pattern and (ii) the number of gamesymbols called comprises: determining that only a single game symbol wascalled.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the number ofgame symbols that will be called from the subpool comprises determiningthat at least two game symbols from the subpool will be calledsimultaneously.
 19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:displaying an indication of a primary prize won in the bingo game basedon the winning bingo pattern.
 20. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: displaying an indication of the secondary prize won in thebingo game based on (i) matching the winning bingo pattern and (ii) thenumber of game symbols called.
 21. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: displaying an indication of the number of game symbols ofthe subpool that will be called.